Caged As A Bird

Chapter 1 ~ Trapped

     I look out my window- it might as well have bars. The neighbors are riding their bikes on the street. I wish I could be there. But I know I can't.
     Glancing over to my door, I hear footsteps. I quickly jump out the windowsill and start reading my book.
     The door opens. My 6 foot 5 father walks through the door.
     "Ah good, still reading your book I see." He says. Not that I had I choice, I think bitterly. Most people didn't know I existed because I was locked in my room so much. Looking up from my book at staring into my father's brown eyes, I say nothing in response. He knows I don't enjoy it, and he knows there is no need for words.
     Sorry, I'm getting ahead of myself. I do that a lot. Im Alyssa. Alyssa York. I live in Sterling, Utah. Ironically, I live on Freedom Lane, but that's not information I need to know. It's not like I'm gonna leave this awful place any time soon. Or... maybe I will. Plans change.
     My mother left me when I was 5. I never really liked her, but then again, I don't like a lot of things.
     Anyway, father expects so much from me. Once I got a A- on a test and I was grounded for three weeks. Not that it was any worse. Just two times the amount of work. I was so tired after all the work. I go to bed as soon as the sun sets and I'm up studying before sunrise. Regularly, my head throbs. I don't know what my father wants me to do so bad that requires all this knowledge.
I honestly don't even know if the government knows I exist. That's how remote my life is.
After father finally left my room, I decide if I don't want a punishment I should get to work. I look down at my book.
My eyelids feel... droopy. I rub my forehead. A shooting pain forms in my head, so bad I cry out. I fall off my chair and hit the wooden floor. I try to stand up. My body doesn't do what I tell it to. Get up, I tell myself. I hear father call out from the bottom of the stairs.
"Alyssa? Are you alright?"
I want to shout "no! Help!" But my mouth doesn't form the words.
Usually saying nothing means "I'm okay!" But this time I guess it doesn't.
I hear father stomping up the stairs, but with every footstep, the world gets darker and darker, before there is no light left.