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

"Bye Miranda!" I said as I left the coffee shop.


"Bye dear. Travel safe." She responded. I opened the door and stepped out into the night air. I have never been on the streets this late before and to be honest, I was scared.


I didn't have any money to take a taxi, so I took a deep sigh and decided to walk. I walked as quickly as possible and was home within ten minutes.


I opened the front door with my keys and head upstairs. The house was in complete darkness, so I figured that Allan was either sleeping or out with friends.


I was halfway up the stairs when I heard a noise. Shocked, I stopped in my tracks. I saw a figure standing up from sitting in the recliner and turn on the lights. The living room lit up in brightness and I was looking into the angry face of my step father.


"Where the hell have you been?" He asked in a hard tone.


Chapter 12