• I scream. I’m running and running, I tumble and fall.
    I turn around in horror, the monster approaching with practiced slowness and sadistic ease.
    I turn and run, run down the dark halls that seem endless.
    I can hear your footsteps, your breath on my neck.
    I stumble yet again, trying to crawl away in vain, tears falling down my face like rain from a black sky.
    You’re laughing now; the laugh of a crazed psychopath.
    You ask me if I’m scared with that fake concern in your voice, the one you use that has the evil intent hidden just below the surface.
    Your special voice you save just for me.
    You ask me if I want to play with that faux sweet voice, ask me with feigned hurt why I’m ignoring him.
    I will my legs to run.
    “Mommy!” I try to scream, but the monster stole my little voice away.
    He laughs as a strangled cry comes from my little mouth.
    My little legs work and I run to my bedroom, slamming the door and shoving my little rocking chair under the fake gold handle.
    I know that won’t help against the monster, and I cower under the bed with Dolly.
    My only friend in the whole wide world that won’t ever hurt me like Daddy does.
    I flinch and whimper as the door handle turns, then the rocking chair being pushed into the wall like it was a rag doll.
    Daddy stands in the doorway, a sweet smile on his face.
    I try and stop my heart from being so noisy, but it beats like a drum from my little bruised and battered chest.
    I hear Daddy laugh like he’s found my hiding spot in a game of hide and seek.
    He walks across the floor, his big footsteps echoing.
    “M-Mommy!” I want to cry out.
    Has Daddy hurt you too?
    His scary big hands reach under the bed and drag me out.
    Daddy slaps my little cheek and punches my little stomach.
    My cries are muffled as he clasps a big smelly hand over my mouth and little nose.
    I can’t breathe.
    He slammed me against my wall and I drop Dolly to the floor. Daddy slams his big black boot on her, and she tears.
    Daddy punches me hard against the chest and I cough up blood on his hand.
    It hurts… Daddy, it hurts!
    He gets angry and throws me to the floor, and I land on my hand.
    Something in my little arm snaps and then it hurts. I scream for the first time.
    He tells me to shut up and kicks me in the side again and again.
    "It hurts! It hurts! Mommy, please come and make it better!"
    But Mommy never comes.
    Something in my side cracks too. A lot of cracks that hurt me so.
    I scream and scream until my little voice grows hoarse and finally Daddy stops, and picks me up gently, cradling my bruised and battered body.
    He murmurs in my ear that it is going to be alright.
    My eyes grow heavy and fuzzy.
    It goes dark.

    ~~~

    I wake up to beeps and a nurse with a kind face.
    She smiles and says “It is going to be alright.”
    My arm is heavy; I see a big cast on it. And bandages are on my small waist too.
    Later, another nurse comes in and says its time for me to leave and that I have a special visitor.
    It’s Daddy.
    He smiles at me with tears in his eyes, sighing and repeating, “Thank God you are okay, angel.”
    His façade dosent fool me for a second.
    It charms the nurse right away though, that fake concern and that sad and loving smile on Daddy’s face.
    He goes over to stroke my head.
    I yell at him to get off me, and I want Mommy to make Daddy disappear.
    But all I did was make a tiny croak.
    Hidden from the nurse, he gives me his scary smile and that crazy look in my eyes comes back, terrifying me into staying completely still. Warning me to be quiet and not tell.
    Like if I tell he’s going to do worse things then break my little bones.
    But then later he takes me home, cradling me in his arms. He keeps on thanking the nurses and doctor, and stroking my hair.
    I want to scream out, “Help me, Mommy! Help me, Dolly! Save me from Daddy!”
    But my voice was stolen away by the monster.