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He hit her again today, her bruises are uncountable, and it hurts me to look at them. I always feel so helpless. I wish I could do something to stop him, but I would probably just make things worse if I intervened. She’s crying right now. I am too. Gosh, I’m so afraid! What if he started hitting me, too? Oh, who am I kidding, I don’t think he even notices that I’m still alive. I’m starving, I'm always starving. But I don’t dare go into the kitchen. Maybe it would be okay if I just went to the kitchen to help her, I don’t need to get anything for myself. Yeah, I could help her get up, there’s no harm in that. His car just pulled out of the driveway, that’s a relief. Now it’s safe to come out of my room.
Luceile walked gingerly down the stairs and into the kitchen. “Mommy?” she mumbled, looking around for the parent she asked for. She then saw her mother lying on the floor, looking a bit dizzy. Luceile knelt down next to her mother and hugged her eagerly, squeezing her mother as tight as she could with her weak arms. “I’m so sorry, I wanted to help but I was too afraid- I’m sorry” Luceile cried into her mother’s arms.
“Afraid? Afraid of what?” Luceile’s mother asked, looking at her with a gentle, but somehow sleepy? expression.
“I was afraid that if I got in the way, he would hurt you more.” Luceile’s expression looked like that of a beggar. She then saw the bruises that covered her mother’s arms, shoulders and neck, “Mommy, you’re hurt!”
“I’m fine Sunshine, really. I’m strong, remember? As long as you’re okay, I’ll be fine.” Luceile’s mother smiled weakly at her, “Now that your father has gone, let me get you something to eat sweetie.” The battered woman limped over to the cupboard and got out a few slices of bread. After that, she hobbled over to another cupboard, grabbed a glass and filled it with tap water, “Here you go Sunshine.” And she handed Luceile the bread and water.
Luceile scarfed down the bread right then and there and chugged the water down, “Thank you, mommy.” Luceile smiled thankfully.
The sound of a car coming into the driveway could be heard from the kitchen. “Oh, it sounds like your father’s home. Hurry up to your room now.” Luceile did as her mother said. “Good night sweetie!” The woman called up the stairs.
“Good night, mommy!” Luceile called down from her doorway.
I can hear him hitting her, and yelling at her. She’s crying. I wish there was something I could do.
Luceile didn’t get much sleep that night.
Today feels… Different. Something about it feels… Wrong. But I can’t figure it out. I don’t hear my father. Maybe he isn’t up yet. Maybe it’s safe to go downstairs.
As soon as Luceile stepped out of her room, she heard it.
Oh, so he is up. And he’s already on her. Maybe I won’t go up to my room just yet.
Luceile silently made her way to the bottom of the stairs and looked around.
Of course, it’s the same as it’s always been. My father standing over my bruised and beaten mommy.
It isn’t fair, she shouldn’t have to deal with this. Maybe if he was gone- No! She can handle this. She’s fine, see she’s bleeding.
Wait, she’s bleeding?! No! This is all wrong! She shouldn’t be bleeding! He went too far! This isn’t right! No! It’s all wrong!
Tears blurred my vision and memories of my old best friend, Mr. Mews flashed in my mind. I forgot about him. I miss him. What happened to him? Suddenly images if my father holding an orange and white corpse covered and smeared with blood in his big hands played in my mind. My cat's limp body flashed in my arms, no, no ! This is wrong ! My vision flashed again, my arms were empty. Mr. Mews’ cold, limp, lifeless body was no longer there. His head which was once cupped in my hand was replaced with a bloody knife. Where did this come from?! I don't remember grabbing a knife. I looked past my hands to see a mangled body beneath me. My hands were covered in blood and bits of torn flesh. I looked up from the corpse, my vision still blurred with tears. Mommy was looking at the corpse underneath me. Her expression read like something between horror and relief. What a weird combination. “M-mommy?” I then realized that the bloody corpse was my father’s. “A-are we safe now?”