Zora

Good Morning, Katie.

"Zora!" I called, "Please open the curtains."

A robotic voice responds. "As you wish, mistress."

The light shines into our room nicely. Our vanity is stocked with designer colognes and perfumes. Our bedding is only the finest silks stuffed with swan feathers. I don't work, but my husband can afford it.

I can't live without him. He works at the hospital as a psychiatrist. He's the only reason we can afford this gigantic smart house. When I picture a doctor I imagine a cranky old man, like the one I had when I delivered Sarah and Betty. But Thomas is far from that. He is tall and handsome. Always well dressed, and always with some type of gold on him. I look at the alarm clock at my bedside. Seven am. My husband must get ready for work.

I kiss his cheek gently, running my fingers through his soft hair, "Good morning, darling."

He pushes my hand away roughly.

"I told you not to wake me. I'm going in late today. Boss said he'll take care of my morning stuff." He's been more hostile lately, he's always aggressive, but he only ever calls me names when I mess up badly. I get up from bed, careful not to further disturb my husband.

I go into the girls' bedroom. They look so precious and darling. The breaths going in and out of their nostrils are almost rhythmic. Calming. I just wish I could hold their tiny bodies in my arms all day. But it is time for school.

"Girls, get up.'' I whisper, "Get dressed, I'll have breakfast waiting for you." I hear a deep voice.

"They won't go today. I've decided."

I gasp, "Darling I thought you would sleep in-"

"Well you've already gotten me awake, so I'm up and ready." I nod my head. The girls cheer at the news of no school.

"Thank you, Papa!" Betty chirps.

I nod slightly, "Zora please make two meals-what would you girls like to eat?" Sarah's eyes light up.

"Blueberry pancakes and pasketti!" Betty giggles.

"It's spategi, silly." Sarah corrects her. I laugh at their innocence.

"Alright, I'll make you girls pancakes for breakfast, and spaghetti for dinner. How does that sound?" The girls jump up and down, but my husband just rolls his eyes at me. He walks towards me and grabs my wrist.

"Katie, that's enough." I pull away from him, slowly backing up. My back hitting the wall.

"Thomas, stop." I caution, "The girls are here!" The girls are rolling around on the floor, giggling uncontrollably, unphased by Thomas's actions.

"Katie just obey me for once in your pathetic-" He stomps his foot down. My eyes fill with horror as I see that his foot has landed on Sarah. I scream the most horrid blood curdling scream.

"Thomas! Thomas!" I scream uncontrollably. I bend down to pick up Sarah. She is screaming in pain. Her ribs are broken, and she is coughing heavily. "What have you done?! My baby, my baby, my poor sweet child!" I cry into her chest. As if not having noticed yet, Thomas screams.

"What?! What have I done?!"

I lift Sarah up. Betty screams in horror, clinging to my leg. "You've crushed Sarah's ribcage!" Thomas just stares at me in horror "Please, Thomas! We have to go to a hospital! Zora!" I shout, "Zora! Call Sarah an ambulance!" Sarah's favorite toy is covered in phlegm that Sarah has coughed up, the carpet with Betty's vomit.

"Access denied mistress. Take your medicine." The robotic voice responds emotionlessly.

"Please, Zora!" I croak, "We don't have any bloody medicine for broken ribs!" Thomas is still staring at me. "Please! Tell Zora to help her!" Suddenly, a loud noise echoes through the room. The sound of Betty's head hitting the corner of her clothes drawers. She has passed out from the sight of her sister. I scream and scream again and again until my throat can no longer bear it.