I was terrified all the time.

I couldn't go on like this. I was even afraid of my own shadow.

I heard a noise downstairs and I knew Allan was home. He was probably searching the cabinets for his stash of alcohol. He was more violent when he was drunk.

I heard my stomach grumbled again. I was really hungry, but I couldn't go downstairs, because he would see me and find a reason to hit me.

I really don't know why my mother had married him. What had she seen in him? I don't know why I ask that question, because I already knew the answer. He was rich and my mother needed the money.

Dad died when I was ten and we started to have money issues. My mother had to do something in order for us to get by, so a year later she married Allan. She didn't love him and I knew he didn't love her either.

Her Saving Grace

The day passed by quickly and school ended. I was sitting on a bench in the school yard waiting for Jasmine. She had said that her gym teacher wanted to see her and she knew that it would take a while. She would always say that her gym teacher did not like her and had it out for her since sophomore year.


Jasmine had invited me to have a sleepover at her house. I was really grateful as usual for these sleepovers as I didn't have to go home and face an impending beating. I could also have one night where I'm safe and sleep peacefully. Allan did not care if I was there or not. Most times he didn't even know I was not there.


I also look forward to a warm home-cooked meal and I really love Jasmine's mother's meals. Mrs. Thomas was a great cook and is a nice woman. She reminded me of how my mother was. She was always taking care of others. Jasmine knew I was grateful to be around her mother, because she knew how much I missed my mother.


Chapter 8