Mommy was still in bed nursing her bruises.
I was trying to make her something to eat and didn’t mean to overpour the milk into her bowl of cereal.
Just as I did that, he walked in.
I bit the inside of my cheek so hard that I tasted blood.
I stepped in front of Annabelle and glared up at him.
He laughed.
Then he struck me.
She cried even harder.
Age 9
“I’m sorry, baby. I can’t cook tonight,” my mommy said.
I nodded, “It’s okay. I’ll do it.”
Daddy sneered at the grilled cheese and tomato soup.
I got backhanded for not putting a better meal on the table.
Age 11
“Bubby?” I heard.
I lifted my head, then I smiled, “Hey, belly. Come on.”
I lifted the covers just in time for her to vault in beside me, curl up, and sigh.
I grinned.
“Story time?” I asked.
She nodded.
“Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, there lived this princess who was the belle of every ball she went to. And one day, the dragon that lived high up in the mountain had had enough of being told where he could go and what he could do. So, he flew up and out of his mountain and flapped his wings hard to make it to the nearby village.”
She giggled.
“The dragon flew over the village, causing everyone to scream in a panic. But the princess didn’t scream. No, she lookedat her brother, the prince, and smiled. So, the prince drew his sword, stood in front of the princess, and said, ‘Come and get me, you overgrown lizard.’”
Annabelle giggled even louder.
“She realized that the only person she could count on was her brother,” I finished as she closed her eyes and sighed again.
Sadly, the dreams and wishes of a nine-year-old... of this nine-year-old, didn’t come true.
Age 11
I shielded Annabelle’s eyes as we walked into the house.
That wasn’t our mother who was bent over the couch with Daddy behind her.
Age 13
