Sarah Fragile English and Edited Version

Sarah Fragile

POV Sarah

'James stop it. You drink too much, it isn't healthy,' I heard my mother say. To hear them better I sneaked down the hall towards the stairs. 'Anne how many times do I need to tell you to mind your own business,' dad roared. Mom was startled because of his outburst and flinched. Not knowing there was a vase behind her, the vase fell. 'What did you do! Do you know how valuable this vase is! It was an heirloom from my mother!' He said loudly while walking slowly towards her. 'You can't do anything, can you. You always have to ruin everything. You had to get pregnant and ruin my life. You do know this is all your fault, right. And of course, I had to marry you because of our parents. Because of that, I'm trapped. I can't do what I want because I have a stupid wife. I didn't want any of this. I wanted to live.' His voice only grew louder and louder. I looked at mom's face and saw absolute terror. She couldn't move. She was that scared. And then it happened. Something I thought dad would never do. This very moment changed my life. Now I knew why my mother is so terrified. Smack! Dad slapped my mother so hard on her cheek her head flipped to the right. I looked over at dad and I saw no sign of regret on his face. Instead, a saw a huge grin. A few moments later the house filled with his loud laughter. I was so confused. I didn't recognize my father. From this day forward my life changed tremendously.

Five years later

It was only five years ago my father slapped my mother for the very first time. Back then I was surprised but now I am used to it. He beats me and my mother daily. Not a single person knows about this and nobody ever will. We look like a normal and happy family but we aren't. We need to pretend to be normal. That nothing is wrong. Just act like everything is okay like how it used to be. Dad would lose everything if anybody found out. He would lose his job and probably go to jail. And of course, he wouldn't be able to hurt us anymore and that would be devastating for him. He is a sick person. He enjoys the pain he inflicts on us. He gets off on it. I think it is disgusting the way he thinks. How on earth could you hurt someone and like it? Sometimes I think about asking for help but every time I chicken out. I'm just scared dad would find out and do something worse than what he is already doing. But then I hear the sound of his belt and my mother screams. Those are the moments I wish I would just be brave enough to ask for help. My mother pleads for him to stop and it is devastating to hear her knowing I can't do anything to help. My mother would hate for me to get between her and dad. She doesn't want me to get hurt. I have a little sister named Chloe. I am so happy that dad doesn't hurt her. She's still so innocent. Sometimes I wish she wasn't born in this kind of household. But I am also extremely grateful that she is our little light in this darkness. Dad loves Chloe. She is his pride and joy. Often I get punished because of the mistakes of my sister. But I don't mind as long as she is safe. My whole body is covered with bruises which I try so hard to hide. I am miserable. I hate my life. So much I considered multiple times to end my life. To end the pain. But I wouldn't forgive myself. I can't take the easy way out. Not if my mom will be punished twice as hard. I can't let that happen. So I just fight every single day to get through the day. Even if it is so hard. Sometimes I wonder if my life will get better at any moment. But I am slowly losing hope. But luckily a have Lucy, my best friend. We met the first day of kindergarten and we've been inseparable ever since. She will always be there for me no matter what. And I hate myself that I can't tell her the truth. But I can't afford it if she tells someone else. My mother and I would be in deep trouble if she did. Mom has always been an amazing mother. She is always there for me which I appreciate a lot. She is always caring and thoughtful. I am extremely grateful to have her as my mother. But she has changed in the past five years. She had a lot of friends and spent a lot of time with all of them. She was always happy and wore the most beautiful smile on her face. I rarely see her smile anymore. My parents were madly in love with each other. A match made in heaven would some say. I don't know where it went wrong. Dad still cared about me back then. Every Friday we would hangout. One time, in particular, I remember perfectly well.

That day dad surprised me. We went to the fair! I was so happy. It was my favourite place to go to. I think I was around five years old. This is my most precious memory of dad and I. We went on every single attraction. I loved everything. We ate a lot of sweets which I normally don't get that much. When the day came to an end dad said 'And sweetheart did you like my surprise?' 'I loved it. Every single second. Thank you, daddy.' He smiled at that. 'Sweety look up', he said. Together we looked at the most beautiful sky I have ever seen. And then we say a shooting star. It was beautiful. 'Daddy, I can make a wish now, right?' 'Yes dear, you can.' I closed my eyes and made my wish. 'And what did you wish for?' Daddy asked. 'I can't tell you. You know that.' He looked at me and smiled at my words.

I miss that time. He was a completely different person back then. Now he is nothing but a monster. Finally, it is the last day of summer. That means I don't have to find different ways to escape my house. Because I can't bear it to be in my father's presence. At this moment it is one o'clock at night. I woke up and I can't seem to be able to fall asleep again. After a while, I hear loud footsteps coming up the stairs. I recognize them, it is my father. I close my eyes and pretend to be asleep. Then my bedroom door slowly starts to open and closes shortly after. He is walking slowly towards my bed. He is coming closer and closer. I can feel him staring at me and that makes me extremely uncomfortable. 'Why do you exist. You ruined my relationship with Anne. If you weren't born we could develop our relation slowly. But she had to get pregnant.' I tried to hold back my tears. How could he say that? 'There is no need to pretend to be asleep anymore. I know you're awake.' While he said this he pulled me out of bed and throws me against the wall. I tried to get back up but he held me against the floor. 'Why didn't we just abort you. That would make everything a whole lot easier. I wouldn't have a useless daughter. A failure. That is what you are. You don't deserve to live.' Then he started to kick me in the stomach. 'Dad please stop', I begged him. 'And why would I do that. You deserve to be in pain. Why don't you just die? That is what you deserve. You would do everyone a favour. After he said that he kicked against my head. It was hard to keep my eyes open and eventually, everything went black.

POV Lucy

I was peacefully watching television when my parents called for me. They said the hospital called them because they were one of Sarah's emergency contacts. She was in the hospital. When I heard that I immediately wanted to go see her. We always treated Sarah as our own family so we drove as fast as we could. Once we were at the hospital the nurses were being very difficult. We couldn't get any information because we weren't blood-related. My parents tried to call Sarah's parents a couple of times but they didn't answer. After a little while, a nurse approached us and told Sarah was in a coma. She also told us we could see her now. I walked into the hospital room and immediately saw here lying on the bed. Completely motionless. It was hard to see her this way. We spoke to the doctors and they said if she doesn't wake up soon the chance of her waking up at all is extremely slim. Days flew by and each day it became more difficult to see Sarah this way. She wasn't getting any better and that troubled me. I don't want to lose my best friend. I don't know what I would do without her. Then suddenly the machines started to make a lot of noise. The room soon started to fill with doctors. I wanted to stay with her but one of the nurses said it would be more convenient to stay outside. Hours past and we haven't heard a single thing. We were all very anxious. After a little while, the doctor finally walked towards us. 'Sadly I need to inform you that Sarah Fragile died because of her head injury.' While I was listening to him I couldn't process any of this. She can't be dead. She is only sixteen. She has a whole life ahead of her. She means to much to me, it just can't be. Even now, a couple of months later, I still find it difficult to accept Sarah's dead. Meanwhile, we found out that James abused Sarah and Anne for a very long time. Luckily he was arrested and now spends his days in prison. Anne and Chloe are doing good. With some help, Anne was able to become better and is now able to take care of Chloe. Everything worked out for them. I only wish we would have found out sooner. Because then Sarah would be alive. I have decided to become a police officer to honour Sarah. 'Sarah I hope you found your peace. I hope you feel better now you don't have to bear all the pain you felt. I will always love you, always. Rest in peace', I said while kneeling before her gravestone.