How To Kill a Dolphin

Prologue

A familiar sense of ennui seeped through my whole being as I twiddled my fingers on the thin cloth I was kneeling on.

Her words were resonating not only against the scratched linoleum walls but my mind as well. I had the urge to cover my ears like a tantrum-throwing kid and yell, "Make it stop! Make it stop!" I couldn't though. She is not to be disrespected like that. I was taught to live by the rules. And she is the only rule.

Suddenly, a palm landed on my left cheek. The sting made me want to cry. But I was stopped by the rational part of me saying, "I weighed the pros and cons, it's not worth it." So I kept my head down and obscured by my tangled hair.

I felt a pang of pain on both of my thighs before it numbed. Moving a leg apart, I saw reddish brown blots stained the dirty white fabric where my kneecap had just been a couple of seconds ago. I used my pinky finger to touch it and brought it before my eyes to inspect. It smelled like rust.

Then I found myself forcibly faced to the other side. Something collided with the bone just below my right ear. The agonizing contact made my eyes water. Her loud shouts of anger were drowned by the throbbing and ringing I was hearing. It hurt and I wanted to resist. But I blinked back the tears, reminding myself, "You deserve this. Don't ever think of complaining."

My whole body ached. But the only pain that lingered afterwards was far from the spot I was hit. Distress crept inside me, making it another lugubrious chapter of my life.

"I wish you weren't my daughter!"

The last thing I heard before I pass out was the ear-shattering crash of my heart.