I didn’t want anyone to see me like this. I felt ashamed. I wanted to hide and cower like all the times before and pretend this hadn’t happened.

But I couldn’t do that anymore!

I was tired.

Tired of this being my life.

Tired of the beatings.

Tired of existing and being on edge all the time.

Something had to change…for the better.

I rang the doorbell several times. At first nobody answered. Then I could see a shadow emerge beyond the patterned double glass.

It was dad.

He glanced up and looked at the state of my face and