Fire ignites on my scalp as my step father pulls my hair and stomps down the hallway. "Please stop!!" I screamed. He scoffs at my plead and continues to pull me into the bathroom. Not again, please no!!

All I could think about was if my little brother was safe. I made sure he always got away before my step father can get to him.

If Toby hears screaming, I told him to climb out the window and run to the neighborhood park as fast as he can. He used to beg for me to come with him so I wouldn't get hurt. I hate that my brother has to go through this. He deserves a better life. It hurts my heart that he couldn't have that at this moment. But so far, my plan has been working and Toby has never gotten hit.

If I didn't let John hit me, he would just be more angry when we came back from escaping his abuse, and would punish me three times harder.

I heard the bath water turn on and the plug being put in. I knew what was going to happen. "Please John, please stop." I cried, unable to escape from his grasp.

"Awe- because you asked so nicely... NO!!" He shoved my head into the ice cold water.

Almost drowning me is John's favorite way of torturing me.

I tried with all my power to push him, kick him, escape...anything. But it was no use, he was to strong for my petite figure.

Black spots started to appear in my vision, my body forced me to take a breath. Water started to fill my lungs. That's when John finally pulled me out. I fell on the floor and tried to gasp for air but I was in a coughing fit. My lungs felt like they were being teared open from the inside. He kicked me in the stomach once and left the bathroom.

The front door was slammed closed so I assumed that he also left the house.

I have to get back to my brother, so I punched my chest multiple times in order to cough out more water. It worked and I began to breath air again. Thank you god, thank you.

Peering out the front door, I saw that John's car was gone. Quickly, I took the opportunity and sprinted to the park.

My little brother was playing on the monkey bars. My heart finally calmed down, he was safe. Toby was safe.

"I remember when the sea was singing, and all of my thoughts were ringing.

Crossed the ocean round the world, speeding.

And no pirate could catch me daydreaming."

I sang my brother his favorite song. Toby looked a lot like me. We both had blue eyes and the same nose. Instead of having blonde hair like me, he has golden brown hair. When in the light, almost looks copper.

His eyes fluttered shut. I kissed him on his forehead and began to get ready for bed.

Walking into the bathroom, I immediately noticed some bruising on my chin from where it hit the bathtub.

I began to take my clothes off and felt disgusted at what I saw in the mirror. Bruises littered my stomach, the purplish and greenish hues seeped through my skin.

I'm so ugly.

My usually tanned body became pale from the lack of sun. I knew I needed to get out more, I'm just scared 'The Monster' will do something to Toby while I'm gone. That's why I usually bring him everywhere with me when I leave the house.

I turned the water on and felt the hot water on my back. No matter how much I cleaned myself. I still felt dirty.

Why must I suffer? Did I do something wrong?

I stepped out of the shower and put on my dads oversized T-shirt that I took when he died. Locking my door, I went back to my bed and tried not to move Toby while I snuggled into the sheets. Glow in the dark stars where on my ceiling from when I was 10. It still calms me down.

My eyes began to feel heavy and before I knew it, I was brought into a deep slumber.