Valeria

1

I've been awake for the past 3 hours cleaning up the whole house while my stepfather Carlo is sleeping. It's currently 7:30, and I'm just finishing up his breakfast.

His room door opened and shut. He's awake early today. I quickly put his plate on the table with 3 bottles of beer.

Loud footsteps could be heard coming towards the kitchen. To me.

When he entered the kitchen, I kept my head down, staring at the floor, waiting for him to dismiss me. Or if I'm lucky and he's in a good mood today, he'll tell me to take a little bit of the food I made. I haven't eaten since last night, and that was only an apple that was starting to go bad.

"Go to your room and get ready for school, I'm having friends over and they should be here soon, If your not gone before they arrive I'm gonna have to punish you" He grumbled with food falling out of his mouth.

I nodded my head and rushed out of the kitchen and upstairs to my small room.

My room isn't actually some decent size, really.

During the week, Carlo has his friends over at least 5 times a week. Normally, he would make me cook them food and refill the cups with achohal or something like that, but I'm glad It's one of those rare times he let me stay in my room. I don't like his friends. They always get a little too touchy.

I quickly changed out of my clothes and into a different pair that belonged to my sister, well stepsister. Her name is Karmella. Carlo took her away somewhere a few months ago, and I haven't seen or heard from her since. I'm really starting to get worried. She can be dead for all I know.

I stood in front of the mirror on my dresser and started to brush my hair somewhat. After 5 minutes of brushing, I think I made it worse. Times like these I wish I had short straight hair.

I doubt Carlo would even notice since he barley ever looks at me, and even if he did the he would even care.

The only reason I haven't cut my hair is because of Karmella. She loved my hair, and she loved doing it even more. Karmella used to do my hair every day, even if there's no school.

Mella couldn't do many things with her hair because Carlo would cut it so short. The only reason why Carlo cuts her hair and not mine is because Mella loved hers and he didn't like it.

Even with short hair that barley reached her shoulder, Mella always looked beautiful, especially when she smiled. I love her smile. It makes all the pain go away.

I hadn't realized I've been standing here for almost 10 minutes. Carlo friends should be here soon.

I put my hair in a messy bun and quickly covered all the visible bruises that I got from Carlo with some concealer he got me.

I backed away from the mirror and grabbed my shoulder bag from beside my old bed, and quietly ran down the stairs and out the back door. If Carlo knew I hadn't left the house yet even thought his friends weren't here, he would be mad, and I might have got a quick beat.

I ran almost the whole 25-minute walk to school and slipped by the students who were talking to their friends outside to get inside.

I only have a group of friends that I met through dance about 9 years ago, but they all moved away throughout this year for different reasons to the same city. I still talk to them over the house phone whenever Carlo isn't home, that is.

7 hours later

School finished about 10 minutes ago, and I'm now on my way. The dance studio thats 10 minutes away. I'm rushing to make it on time so my instructor doesn't call Carlo to tell him I'm late again.

The only reason why Carlo let me stay in dance after mom died was because of the money. I'm a competitive dancer and have been competing ever since I started at 5. When I go to competitions I win most of the time and sometimes the prizes are cash.

Growing up, I was a great dancer. Well, that's what people said, at least. I was invited a few times to dance in TV commercials and as a backup dancer for kid singers. I started to get a small bit of fame when mom made me my own Instagram.

Mom never made me do anything I didn't want to, although she would encourage me to try new things.

Every bit of money I made from dance was put into an envelope and hidden somewhere in the house.

Mom never trusted the bank with money. When she died, Carlo tried to find it but failed. He gave me and Karmella a very bad beating when we didn't find it.

To this day, Carlo is still looking for the money and demanded me to give it over if I find it as if I would ever.

That money is rightfully mine

Carlo forces me to go to dance competitions, which gives away money for the winner. And when I will, he takes all the money for himself.

After 2 more minutes of running, I finally reached the dance studio. I had 5 minutes to change, so I made my way into the changing room and changed in one of the stalls. There were still some girls in here on their phones, and I don't want them seeing my bruises.

When I was done, I went inside one of the many dance studios and sat down on the ground with all the other girls.

Our teacher, Mrs Smith, came in and ordered us to stretch before teaching us the contemporary dance.



4 hours later

Dance is finished, and right now, I'm nearing my street. Carlo isn't going to be home until 2 hours and I already cleaned the whole house this morning so all I have to do is pick up empty achohal bottles that he and his friends left when I was gone then I can finally take a nap and maybe do my homework.

As I walked up to my house, I saw 2 police officers standing at the door.

I was about to turn back around and pretend like I didn't live here, but one of them called out my name.

"Valeria Marianna Lopez?"

"Si?"

Pretend everything they say is in Spanish

"Can you come here? we'd like to have a word with you," the man officer said.

I nod my head and make me towards them, only stopping one 3 feet away.

"The reason why we're here today is because your stepfather Carlo died during a shoot out at the bar,"

Oh. I'm not really sure to feel. I kinda feel bad for Carlo, not because I care for him, but then I also feel a little relieved.

I'm such a terrible person for feeling relieved that someone died.

I guess I'll be sent to an orphanage now. I heard some of them treat the kids really badly.

"We found out that you have other family members on your dads side and contacted your oldest brother, and he's more than willing to take you in."

Ty for reading!