Her.

• TWENTY-ONE •

| T O R I |

Mya let me go home after I was able to get the bruises to go away. I had heard nothing from Josiah and I knew that if he did come back it would most likely be to get his things. I'm still kind of upset. Not only at him but at myself. I know I could do way better and now that I think about it , Bryce didn't deserve what I did to him. He didn't. But I mistreated him anyway , and I think I can now relate to the feeling. I was being a hypocrite.

Now that I can admit it , it doesn't hurt that bad to say it. But I was being a hypocrite. And it was wrong. It had been a couple weeks and I had been dying to see Jordan so I drove to my moms house and went to see him. I unlocked the door with my keys and went inside . I walked down the entirely long hall way and into the living room just to lay eyes on the one and only , Josiah. My face was emotionless. I was speechless. What would I say ?

Hello?

Josiah was playing with Jordan and his legos. I was going to say something but I was interuppted by my mom jumping in my face. "What is he doing here." I whispered to her. She tilted her head , "What do you mean? You said he could come see JoJo." I shook my head fast and stared at her. "No I didn't, Ma. " She looked confused and said, "Well... That's what he told your father & I.What's the big deal anyway? Are you okay from when you fell sweetheart? You could me missing out on a few moments that might have happened , hun. " I cracked a giggle , "Yeah she fell alright... Right into his fist. " My dad said , coming down his stairs.

I really didn't have time to hear him fuss to me so I went over to Jordan and picked him up ."Mommy!" He squealed and hugged me tight. "What are you doing here , Josiah. " I said sternly. He smiled at me , "Came to see my son. " I gave him a stank face. "Don't come near him again . Or near the rest of my family.--"

"Are you stupid or slow?" He laughed. "I'm gonna get my revenge , sweetheart. One way or the other. " He grinned and walked out.

GREAT. Just what I needed right now.

* H O U R S L A T E R *

I was at home relaxing because Jordan was at my moms house and I had the house to myself. The lights were dimmed and I was eating popcorn and watching Titanic . I had heard a creek from the kitchen so I went and seen that the window above the sink was open so I closed it. I took one step back and instantly felt me stepping on someone's shoe. I looked back and seen Josiah's face and all I kept wondering was...

How the hell did he get inside my house?

I don't know what happened but I ran for my life. I tried going to the door but it didn't work because he eventually caught up to me and pushed me on the floor. "C'mon T. Let's have some fun. "  He said unbuckling his belt. I slid back and rubbed my head slowly from the knock down I had just had. "Josiah just leave. You're making this worse for yourself. I'll call the cops. "

"Shut up , Bitch." He said and grabbed my hair , yanking me into the bedroom as my body wobbles along with him. He threw me on the bed and started to take off my clothes. I grunted and kicked him off of me trying to run for the door. But Josiah was like a Hulk and threw me back on to the bed , making my head hit the headboard. I couldn't see that well , my vision got blurry. When I got my head straight my clothes were already off and he was forcing himself inside me. He started kissing on me and moaning loud and I bit his ear with all force and kneed him in his dick. I had on only my bra and my panties were slid aside so I ran towards the door and he threw a heavy book in my back making me fall to the floor. I grunted in pain and he whimpered. "You dumb cunt!" He walked over to me and kicked me in my stomach. He grabbed me by my hair and slammed me into the wall. "Stop , Please." I whimpered and he laughed . I had tears rolling down my eyes but he didn't stop. He wouldn't stop. He pushed me up against the wall and put his hands around my neck and choked me. "You wanna set me up and have 4 bitch ass niggas jump me? Oh Ima show you all the pain I felt. " I was lost. This wasn't the Josiah I knew. This wasn't the Josiah I fell in love with. What happened to him? He seen I was on the verge of passing out so he let me go and I gasped for air. He turned me over and ripped my panties off , and forced himself inside me again. "Mmm , dirty fucking whore." I tried pushing him off me but he just banged my head on the hardwood floor all over again.

Why didn't I listen to Mya?

Why didn't I listen to Bryce?

I fooled them all. But not myself.

This is all my fault.

All my fault.

Days went by and Josiah was back at home. I was basically his servant. His wish was my command. And if I didn't do it . He would beat me. He forced me to clean the kitchen floors and I had to wear this ripped T-Shirt. "Hurry up and make me a sandwich. " He ordered. Mya had been on a cruise but It was like monday so I was praying for her to come get me. And my prayers were answered because she burst through my front door and when she seen Josiah she went off. I kept cleaning the floors and all I heard was Mya cursing and Josiah laughing. "Tori.. Tori babe , come on , you gotta leave." I kept wiping the floors and my eyes got teary. "Come on , you have to clean yourself up and I'll even get Jordan. " Josiah walked over to me and leaned on the couch. "I ain't even gon' say nothing. You smart, you know what to do. And hurry up with that sandwich. " He told me. Mya eventually seen I wouldn't get up so she went over to Josiah and stood in his face. "You gon' get yours."

"Didn't you say that last time? I'm tired of you , bitch. Get out. " He said pushing Mya out. He walked over to me and kicked my back. "DIDN'T I SAY MAKE MY FUCKIN SANDWICH!"

I immediately got up and made a quick sandwich and gave it to him. He took one bite , stood up and put the entire sandwich on my face. "That was disgusting. Just like you . Clean that shit up , and take a shower, you fucking stink. "

I took a shower and I squealed as the hot water hit all my bruises. I was finally alone. That's when I was proven wrong because I felt a body watching me. He opened the shower curtains and beat me with a extension cord. I had red whips all over my body.And I just laid there and took it like a bitch. Letting the water drop on my hair and onto my hot wounds. "Next time don't fuck up my sandwich. Come clean up this fucking living room."

Was I invisible to everyone? It seemed as if I didn't matter... And I guess I didn't.

It felt like I was living but I was dead.

Since when was Tori a slave?

I felt like a slave. And a deadbeat to my son.

My son... My JoJo.

I guess Mya came back to get me and Josiah ordered me to open the door. But When I opened it , my tears immediately fell because I seen Bryce. Josiah was in the room , I had no idea what he was doing here. "Where he at?" Bryce said in rage. "Who?" I questioned. "JOSIAH.Where that nigga at?" He said again. I pointed in the hall way and he kept gripping the back of his pants as if he had a gun. "Get yo shit, and get in my car. NOW." He ordered.