While Darek was enjoying his time, basking in the warmth of friendship and contemplating his future, Olivia found herself caught in the grip of a far darker reality. Her days were an intricate dance through the minefield of her tumultuous relationship with her mother, Veronica. Who continuously abuses her both physically and mentally.

As the school bell rang, signalling the end of the day, Olivia gathered her belongings and prepared to leave the classroom. However, before she could step out, her teacher, Mrs Thompson, called her over.

“Olivia, could you please help me with organizing these files? I could use an extra hand,” Mrs Thompson asked, a warm smile gracing her face.

Olivia nodded, her heart sinking a little as she realized she might be late getting home. Still, she couldn’t refuse her teacher’s request. “Of course, Mrs Thompson. I’ll be happy to help.”

Time seemed to slip away as Olivia delved into the task, organizing the files with meticulous care. She was so focused on helping her teacher that she lost track of time entirely. When she finally finished, the sun was already dipping below the horizon, painting the sky with hues of pink and orange.

Panicking, Olivia rushed out of the school and sprinted towards her home. Her heart pounded in her chest as she approached the familiar doorstep. She knew what awaited her once she stepped inside - her mother’s wrath.

Olivia hesitated, her small hand trembling as it reached for the doorknob. She could hear her mother’s angry voice echoing inside the house, and fear gripped her heart. She contemplated turning away and finding somewhere else to hide until her mother’s anger subsided, but she knew deep down that it wouldn’t make a difference. No matter when she came home, her mother’s anger would find her.

With a shaky breath, Olivia mustered her courage and turned the doorknob. As she stepped inside, she was met with her mother’s piercing glare. Her heart sank as she saw the anger and disappointment in her mother’s eyes.

“Where have you been?” her mother demanded, her voice laced with fury.

“I-I was helping Mrs Thompson at school. I lost track of time,” Olivia stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Her mother’s anger only intensified. “You lost track of time? How irresponsible can you be? You always make excuses for your laziness.”

Olivia’s shoulders slumped, tears welling up in her eyes. She knew better than to argue or defend herself. It only made things worse. She simply stood there, taking in the torrent of insults and scolding, trying her best to remain stoic despite the pain in her heart.

In the dimly lit basement that doubled as her room, Olivia’s tear-streaked face was still flushed from the pain of her mother’s relentless beating. She tried to wipe away the evidence of her tears, wanting to conceal her vulnerability even in the solitude of her makeshift sanctuary.

Her mother’s harsh words echoed in her mind, replaying like a haunting melody. “Clean the whole house and prepare the food, and you won’t get anything to eat for a week.” The weight of the punishment hung heavy over her, but she knew she had no choice but to obey.

With a deep breath, Olivia grabbed her worn-out bag and changed into her cleaning clothes - faded jeans and an old t-shirt, the uniform of her endurance. The routine was painfully familiar, and she had mastered the art of hiding her pain, both physical and emotional, from the world.

Ascending the stairs, Olivia entered the main living area of the house. The air was heavy with a sense of emptiness, a void left by her mother’s absence. As she began to clean, the soft whirring of the vacuum cleaner filled the silence, a soundtrack of her resilience in the face of adversity.

Olivia meticulously dusted each surface, not daring to miss a single spot. Her hands trembled, but she pushed on, determined to complete the task to perfection. She washed dishes, scrubbed floors, and did all that was expected of her, knowing it was the price she had to pay for her mother’s temporary satisfaction.

As Olivia continued cleaning the house, her heart weighed down by both physical exhaustion and emotional turmoil, the sound of the doorbell made her jump. Startled, she quickly wiped away the tears that had escaped her eyes and took a deep breath to calm herself. The fear of her mother’s return still lingered in her mind, making her heart race.

With hesitant steps, Olivia approached the front door, unsure of what awaited her on the other side. She opened it cautiously, expecting to see her mother standing there, ready to inflict more pain. However, her breath caught in her throat when she saw her best friend, Sandy, standing in front of her instead.

“Olivia,” Sandy said softly, concern etched on her face as she took in the sight of her friend.

Olivia’s defenses crumbled at the sight of someone who genuinely cared about her. Tears welled up again, but this time they were tears of relief mixed with vulnerability. “Sandy, I... I didn’t expect to see you.”

“I came as soon as I could when you didn’t answer my calls,” Sandy said, her voice filled with compassion. “Are you okay? What happened?”

Olivia hesitated for a moment, not sure if she should burden Sandy with the truth. But the sight of her friend’s caring eyes and the warmth of her presence made her feel safe enough to share her pain. “It’s... it’s my mother. She got angry when I came home late from helping a teacher, and she... she beat me again.”

Sandy’s eyes filled with tears as she wrapped her arms around Olivia, offering the comfort and support that she so desperately needed. “I’m so sorry, Olivia. You don’t deserve to be treated like this”

After breaking the hug, Olivia’s heart swelled with gratitude, and she ushered Sandy inside, swinging the door open wide to reveal the welcoming expanse of her living room. The room was bathed in a soft, warm glow, sunlight filtering through curtains that whispered promises of a brighter day.