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

I rolled my eyes at her childish behaviour and turned my head to look at the alarm clock that was by her bedside. The time read 6:46am. I turned back to Jasmine and glare at her again. "Why did you wake me up so freaking early on a Saturday?!" I asked astonished. She knew I didn't have to go in to the cafe today. Miranda had called yesterday and said that I could take the day off.


"Jaime wants to go to the zoo. My mom has to work, so she asked me to take him." Jasmine said with a casual lift of her shoulder.


I lift a questioning eyebrow at her. "What does that have to do with me?"


"Because I don't want to spend the day alone. You know Jaime, he'll annoy the hell out of me." She then gave me a sly grin. "At least you can share the pain and torture with me."


"Some best friend you are." I said dryly in a sarcastic tone.


Chapter 56