efore I could react, he lunged forward a

ou get this?"

p and he slapped me,

a sharp, burning pain that radiated through my jaw. The shock of

no real concern in her voice. It was the soun

n!" my father yelled, his face inches from

lled in my eyes. "You lied

t, but of pure annoyance. "We were protecting you! And him! Do you have any idea the sc

d back. "I care about my life! You have to tell

pping to a dangerously quiet tone. "And you are goin

, dismissing me as

"It' s not over. I' m not going. And I' m going to

erve. Both o

oward the door. "I' m going to a hotel

n the entryway table. My

sn' t

rantically. "Whe

ay for safekeeping. You' re not in a state to be r

keys. They were trapping me here. The walls of my

desperation. I looked at my mother, trying one l

"Just tell me the truth. Why are you doing th

moment, I thought I saw a flicker of something-pity, m

ck to me and pick

she said, her voice fla

way out. The last shred of hope that this was all a terrible misunderstanding died inside me. My pare