"Pretty Girl"

14 - because of me?

⚠️TW⚠️ abuse

Malorie's POV:

My dad looks up at us at the counter in the kitchen when we walk in. He smiles. He's pissed.

"And where were you two for 10 hours?" He asks.

"By mom's," I say. He looks at Daddy, then at me.

"I thought me and your mother told you that that wasn't going to happen, Mal."

"Okay. But it did. Now what?" He stares at me.

"Hey, Mal, honey go upstairs," Daddy says.

"Why. Because he wants to hit me? Yeah, go ahead. Follow in your parents' footsteps. Hit me." He slaps me.

"Oh my fucking god!" Daddy shouts. He pins Dad to the wall.
"What is the matter with you?!" He shouts at him.

The abused become the abuser. Case A.

"Why the fuck would you do that?!"

"The little shit deserved it," he says. I stare at Dad. And I feel like I've been betrayed.

I mean, I know I said it, but that wasn't me talking, and why would he listen to me anyway?

"Are you being fucking serious, Daniel?!" He shouts. I feel eyes on me. I look over out the window and see Crystal and Kate looking at me.

Like they just saw everything.

Both of them are crying. Damn it.

"Malorie let's go. We're leaving. We're not doing this. I'm not gonna let him do this to you." Dad grabs me.

"She's my kid! Biologically, she's mine! You aren't taking her anywhere!"

All of a sudden, I'm back to when I was four. And my grandfather has just laid a hand on me. My grandmother was trying to get me away, but he kept hitting me.

"Please stop," I whisper, voice breaking.

"Shut up you little shit. Go to your room!" He says.

"Malorie, honey," Daddy says.
"Come on. Don't be scared, it's okay."

"I swear to god do not go with him, Malorie." I start to hyperventilate. What do I do? What do I do? What do I do?

"Malorie. Hey. It's okay. I promise you I won't let him hurt you," Daddy says.

"I just- I just want to go to sleep. Can I do that? Please?" My voice breaks.
"Can I go to Kate's? She's right next door. P-please?" My lip quivers.

"Go upstairs, Malorie! You have a bed upstairs!" He shouts. The doorbell rings. Daddy opens it.

"Hi! Have you seen Mal? Is she here?" I hear Kate ask.
"I just got dumped and I need her."

"She's here, yeah, but I think she's sleeping."

"Can I wake her up? I know it's late but-" I hear her voice break.

"I'll send her over."

"Promise?"

"I promise." He closes the door.

"Go upstairs, Malorie," dad says. I breathe faster.

"I don't wanna." He pushes me down. I hit my head. It hurts. Fuck.

I lay back on the ground and let the yelling consume my ears. Crashing. Glass shattering. More yelling.

"You're just like your parents!" I make out through the ringing.