1 Scientist, 5 Cameras

Diana Cruz

It was 7:00am and I already heard my father yelling at my mother. All I could hear was the slurred voice of my father, "Everything's your fault! You made me lose my job! You made our daughter messed up!"

Glass breaking. Shattering.

Woman's sobbing following.

I feel bad for mom. At the same time, I don't. I've asked her a million times if she wants to run away with me. Every time was the same damn answer, "You know I can't. Who's going to take care of your father?"

Another glass.

I decided to get up and put on a pink short sleeve and loose jean shorts. I want people to see the cuts, bruises, and burns I have so they know I survived. Surviving the worst of it and that didn't bring me down.

"Our daughter is messed up because of you!"

He still bothers to call me 'daughter' when he knows I'm a boy now. Internally I am a boy, but of course he wants to be a jackass. I go into the kitchen and see what I expected.

Mother and father fighting.

Mostly father hitting mother.

I carefully go to say goodbye to mother but I wasn't fast enough. He 'accidently' hit me with a bottle on my back. I could see the blood seep through my pink shirt.

I didn't cry. I didn't even say ow. I'm used to it by now. I kiss my mother on the cheek and go back to my room to get a sweater and an extra short sleeve shirt. I get a colorful sweater and shirt and put the sweater over my head. Usually Kinsey or Jason has a first aid kit for me.

I checked my phone and responded to everyone. I grabbed my backpack and a box of cheez-its and went to the big beautiful oak.