“Seth get your ass out here!” I heard my mom yell at me. I already knew what was going to happen. I’ve relived this nightmare so many times but for some reason the outcome always changed.

“What momma?” I asked as I entered the room. Well by room I mean the torture chamber in our basement that she hid from everyone else.

“I heard from the teacher that you held hands with another classmate.” She said in her false ass sweet voice. “What was the gender of this classmate?”

“It was a boy.” My poor nine year old self said without thinking. “No wait but it didn’t mean anything! I swear! No please momma!” I shouted as she cracked the whip across my chest. “AHHHH” I screamed out from the pain.

“I don’t care if he just touched your hand to help you up. You still let him touch you.” She said and kept whipping me over and over and over again.

I was losing so much blood that I couldn’t even stand anymore. Then I heard the whip hit the floor and the huge metal door open. “Don’t forget to clean up and don’t let James or the girls see, ‘kay.” She said in her fake voice again.

Just as I was about to pass out I heard a gunshot and then I was dead again.

I woke up breathing heavy and sweating. I couldn’t hold the tears back. I couldn’t believe my own mother put me through that for so many years. The pain I have had to hide and feel for so many years was all because of her.

“Are you okay? I heard you scream.” Ryan said pushing the door wide open. When he saw me crying I turned around so he couldn’t see me. I hated crying so much especially in front of people.

I felt his arm wrap around me and turn me around. My face was against his chest and I could smell him. He smelled so good. I wrapped my arms around him and cried even harder. I never realized how muscular his chest was but I found comfort in it.

“Shh, I’m here. I won’t let anything happen to you.” He said trying to comfort me. I don’t know how long we stayed like that but at some point I fell asleep.