, the soft light filtering i

I rubbed my eyes and squinted at th

d breakfast. The comforting smell of eggs filled th

lept deeply l

hoarse. "What juice was that? The

e me, confusion etched on

urgency. "The orange juice. I drank

wave of her hand. "I don't know

e it was Dad. Maybe he was trying to make me uncon

quickly masked it with a smile

ation. "Mom, I passed the Wilston entrance exam i

genuine smile broke throu

"Mom, please come with me.

ading. "I'm happy here, sw

I exclaimed, frustration bubbli

ice steady but tired. "No matter how much we tr

Get a divorce!" I begged, my

aying. "Stop! I'm sick and tired of your

nted was for her to see the truth, to free herself from the

lammed her fists on the table, the sou

o leave man I love, even if he did some things! You don't know wha

r someone like that!" I shot back, feeli

needed to escape, to get away from t

ol, my mind racing with thoughts of my mom an

ok a deep breath, trying to sh

wandering until my teacher ca

tening the room. "We've just received the final exam scores and I'

nticipation fi

art pounding. "Who is it?" she w

100, it's Sofia Westley!" she declared,

oy. "Really?" I gasped, standing

der of my hard work. I could hardly believe it. "T

of excitement and dread about the next chapter of

g that I was ready for Wilston. But

t, and my heart dropped. I ran down the st

d: my dad was beating my mother. Each strike landed with

uted, her voice trembling. The words cut through me l

forward, desperation fueling

s wild with rage. His fist connected hard with my fa

nd me, but I couldn

outed, feeling the warm b

dad's rage turned toward me, and bef

sickening force. I felt the warm blood trickling down my f

, his eyes wild with fury. I watched helplessly as he tore

a lifeline, and seeing them ripped and

s my fu

a finger in my direction as if to emphasize his contr

I felt both anger and despair clawing at my insides, but it was

il I could barely stand. I felt helpless,

ace. "It hurts!" But my words fell on deaf ears, dr

f against the onslaught, wishi

intensified. I could feel the blood pool

ng to everything my dad said, h

eration lacing my voice, but my wo

ffirmation felt like

, my dad's rag

No! The 2 of you will forever be

on my face. The impact felt like a thunde

hap

d I used to