tonia was In front of me glaring at me with angry eyes . Before I could react, Ant

ir , my feet dangling an inch from the floor. "You thought you were special, huh? Dante chose you over me! You

d to more pain, a lesson learned through a lifetime of abuse. My uncle watched, torn between loyalty to Antonia an

f mistreatment. The death of my parents when I was just five left me at the mercy of my uncle, his wif

"Dante chose her! Can you believe it, Mum ? Elena is going to be a Mafi

of disappointment and disgrace. Without saying a word, she walked away, leaving me to face Antonia's anger a

I left the room making my way to the small, cramped space that passed as my room. It was

d up, and I couldn't hold them back. Sitting on the floor, I let the sobs escape, the

Do I have to remind you that you have chores to do?" I stammered an apology, but she cut me off. "No time for sla

have a momentary escape from the harsh reality that was my life. In the kitchen, I wasn't at ease. I knew som

or. Panic gripped me immediately, I knew Aunt Silvia wouldn't take this lightly. Bending down to pick up the broken

. Instead, she extended her hand to help me up. Confusion clouded my thoughts ,this wasn't how I expected her to react. "Come with me, my child," she said, leading

for what happened and the accident in the kitchen might b

nly, she stood before me, delivering a powerful slap that echoed through the room. The pain seared through my face. She continued her slow pacing, and another slap followed. Tears streamed down my face a

t she cut me off. "Living with us isn't enough for you to appreciate." She walked behind me, unzipping my dr

ed me. I didn't answer her because it was pointless arguing, the more I would attempt to respond the painful my punishment would be

y, she'd force answers out of me. She put the hot rod on my back, and you could hear the sizzle as it touched my skin

d off my back, the burning sensation still intensified . I knew that the pain wouldn't f

en on her face. Through tears, I managed to speak, "I swear upon my dead parents, I didn't do anything. I never lik

final act of cruelty, she delivered a blow to my face near my eye. I fell back, landing on my already painful back, the impact causing even more pain. I was left with a swo