To Get To You

24

TW: Self-harm, Abuse, Harassment

Have you ever woken up from a nightmare?

Lucky you.

I don't even need to wake up from one because asleep or not, my life's already been a nightmare.

"Daddy can't I have a baby sister or brother? I don't have anyone to play with. The kids at school said that they don't wanna play with me because I'm boring." I pouted while playing with my giraffe stuff toy.

"You are not boring, anak." daddy carried me and put me on his lap.

"Bakit ayaw po nila makipaglaro sa akin? Nishishare ko naman po toys ko sa kanila pero ayaw pa rin po nila ako isali mag play. Pati kayo po ni mommy hindi ako nilalaro."

"Ever--"

"Hon!" we heard mommy's loud groan of pain.

Agad akong binitawan ni daddy kaya napasubsob ako sa couch. Tumayo ako at sinundan si daddy papunta sa kwarto nila.

"What happened to mommy?"

I tried to touch her belly to help lessen her pain but she just smacked my hand away.

"Don't touch your mommy, Eve." sabi ni daddy habang may tinatawagan sa cellphone.

Daddy immediately carried mommy outside.

"Everleigh you stay here and lock the doors. I'm gonna bring mommy to the hospital."

"But I want to go with you. I don't wanna be alone here daddy, I'm scared."

I was crying my eyes out while looking at daddy who's putting mom inside the car.

He turned to me.

"I will call your Auntie to accompany you here. Lock the door, Everleigh and don't let strangers in."

That day, the six year old me, waited. I waited for my parents to come home but they didn't. I waited for my Auntie but she never came. I was sleeping on the couch when I heard someone knock. I hurriedly stood up to open the door because I thought it was them.

My smile vanished when I saw two old guys instead of my parents.

"Sabi sa'yo erp mag-isa lang 'tong batang 'to. Laging wala magulang niyan." sabi noong payat na manong sa matabang manong.

"Hindi po ako pwedeng magpapasok ng strangers."

I hurriedly closed the door but they pushed it kaya pati ang maliit kong katawan ay naihagis.

"Ang dami mong satsat bata! Huwag kang maingay kung hindi mayayari ka sa akin!" the fat man said.

Nakatayo lang ako doon habang yakap ang stuff toy ko. Halos hindi na ako makahinga sa paghikbi.

"P-please po manong not my mommy's watch. Daddy gave it to her." hinihila ko ang pantalon noong matabang manong para sana matigil siya.

"Putangina kang bata ka! Halika nga rito!"

"Stop na po! It hurts!" humihikbi kong sabi habang hawak ko ang ulo ko.

Kinaladkad niya ako sa pamamagitan ng paghila sa buhok ko. Nang huminto siya ay sinampal niya ako nang malakas. Nalasahan ko ang dugo sa aking bibig.

"Gago ka Baldo! Bakit mo sinaktan 'yong bata?!"

"Ang kulit e! Pero maganda 'tong bata, erp. Pwede na pamparaos."