• Why am I here again? How many times have I asked that unanswerable question? I give myself many reasons but which one justifies the pain I am feeling now. What would my mom do if she saw me curled on my bed? What could she do? I slowly rapped my blanket around my rigid frame. The pain seemed to leak out of me from un-seenable cuts. How much more of this will I be able take? I knew the answer. As much as I have to. My beloved sister is still with him. I will not leave her defenseless to his destructive madness. The worst part is Mom is starting to notice a bruise here a scrap there. Whose are easy to cover. Oh! That? I was just playing around. That`s what I say. But what is I come home with something worst. How will I explain it to her then? I can`t focus on that now. When it comes, I will find a way. Right now, I must be strong. I must not let in. That`s what he wants. I must do this for her.

    But I am still not strong enough to hold back the tears.