I will break you

Nine

My whole body is trembling. He's going to be here, any second now. We are sitting at our seats around the table, an icy atmosphere hanging over us. I can feel all of my suppressed tears causing my throat to close up, so I take a long swig of water and attempt to halt the nervous bouncing happening with my leg. I hear a key turning in the lock, and I feel my breathing quicken. “Hey, you're okay.” Beth says, squeezing my hand under the table. I nod gratefully, giving her a feeble smile. I hear two pairs of feet, and hope for the police, but instead Dad and his son stand at the foot of the stairs. I see no food; as if on cue my stomach growls miserably. Dad crosses the room until he gets to me and reaches out his hand. Reluctantly, I take it. He leads me up the stairs, away from Beth and Hillary. The son follows. What is he going to do to me? A thousand disgusting possibilities race through my mind, none of which I like. He covers my eyes with his free hand as we walk through the house. I want to snap it off. We seem to be gingerly going up some stairs, his hand still holding mine like a child would with their mother. He then lets go and forcefully hurls me into a room.

It looks horrifying here. The white walls are splattered with numerous stains, and the skirting boards are lined with desperate claw marks. The whole surface of the walls remind me strongly of a person's last cry for help, the stains and scratches a human’s last mark on the world. Dad crouches down in front of me, caressing my cheek slowly and tucking my hair behind my ear. Tears race down my face, dripping to my lap. He smiles slightly. “You know, Julia, I did try my best.” And with that, he leaves and slams the door to the room, locking it tightly behind him.