I sat on my bed in thought. My younger sister sat on her own bed across from me. Our room was its usual dark gray color from the little lighting that came through the boarded window. Father took the light bulb fromm all out light sources because he didn’t want us ‘getting ideas’. Our bedroom walls we were forced to paint gray because of father. Out beds are old and rickety along with any other piece of furniture in the room. Which isn’t much. Just the drawer in the far left corner from the window and the nightstand between me and my sisters headboards.

Father doesn’t give us much to eat or drink. If we’re lucky, he could give us a loaf of bread and a jug of warm water. Me and sis are greatly under weight. I had once seen a few ribs when sis was getting dressed. Our clothing is the same thing. Black shirt and jogger pants with terrible tennis shoes. The kids at school either make fun of us or ask if we’re alright. We say we’re fine. Always. No matter how much we want to cry out our pain and scream at everyone about our suffering but father wouldn’t allow it. He never would nor will. He’d hurt us if we did.

“Sammy?” my sister calls with a whisper.

“Yes Lilia?” I reply just as quiet as her.

“When we go to school tomorrow, can we-”

“No. You know we can’t,” I say already knowing what she’ll ask.

Lilia bows her head and I so desperately want to get up and cradle her in my arms. The way my mom would cradle us when we were little. But father wouldn’t allow it.

I sigh and look down at my own lap. We’ll never escape this prison of a home…

“Sammy?” Lilia speaks up again.

“Yes Lilia?” I respond.

“When can we tell the others?” she questions.

I look up to her still bowed head and sighed again, this time more sympathetic.

“Never,” I respond. “We can’t ever tell anyone else. You know this-”

Suddenly, there was a pounding on our door that made us both jump.

“What’re you brats sayin’ in there?! Ya better not be speakin’!” came fathers booming voice.

Me and Lilia stare at the door in fear, neither of us making a sound. Father huffed and chuckled as he walked away from our room. I look over to Lilia to see her red eyes. She’s on the verge of crying and if father hears… we’re most definitely going to get hurt for it. I’m too scared to say anything as I watch Lilia catch herself and calm down before it got out of control.

“Lilia,” I say.

She looks to me and responds, “Yes Sammy?”

“When we go back to school, no matter how tempting it is, even if the nicest of people of even an adult asks how we are. I know you want to say the truth but if anyone asks, tell them we’re fine, okay?”

Lilia stares at me while she thinks. She then hunches over and nods as her head start to hand again. I sigh and look to the wall in thought.

‘No matter what happens, we can’t say anything. We can’t go to anyone. Father would hunt us down if we did. He’s escaped jail twice already. He can do it again. Keep your mouth shut Sammy. I hope you can do the same Lilia…’