“Hey, Mara are you free to work overtime again”. 

“Sorry I have to watch my sibling's tonight, my parents decided to do a last-minute date night” she sighed  

After her shift, she decided to take a shortcut through the park to get home. While walking home she felt like she was being watched. She had felt like this for weeks; while at school, walking to work, and walking home. Although she didn’t think much of it and decided to chalk it up to just being paranoid. As she got home, she could sense something was wrong. The air was thick and as she opened the door her eyes grew wide. There lying on the floor was her sister passed out and covered in blood.  

“Angel” she yelled as she ran towards her sister, who was beginning to regain consciousness. “What happened to you?”.

“It was dad, he was drinking again,” she said.

" Where is mom? Is she home yet?”.

“Yeah, she is upstairs getting ready for their date”  

To the public, they were perfect parents with the perfect daughters, but that was far from the truth. While both parents work good jobs, their father was an alcoholic and would occasionally cheat on their mother with women he met at bars. While their mother blamed them for their father's cheating, saying it was their fault that she was no longer beautiful. That they ruined her. This would ultimately lead to beating, for they weren't seen as their children but punching bags for them to take their anger out on.  

“Mara is that you? Can you come up and help me get ready”? 

“Yes mother, coming now” Mara answered.  

After putting her sister on the couch and promising to help her get cleaned up; she went to go see her mother.  

“Mom what do you need help with” 

“Will you do my hair the way you did it last time. Your father said he liked it”  

As she started to braid her mom's hair all she could think about was how bad she wanted to leave. To provide a better life for her and her sister.   

“You know I use to be so beautiful. That was before I had you and your sister” 

“I know mom”

“I used to have guys lined up to take me out. Now I getting cheated on by your father with some whore he met at the bar. He does think I know.”

“He has been drinking again mom”.

“I know, I saw your sister on the floor when I came in”.

“AND YOU JUST LEFT HER THERE. LYING ON THE FLOOR IN HER OWN BLOOD.” she snapped.

“Who do you think you're talking to you ungrateful bitch. Do you want to end up like your sister?”

“No mother.”

"Then watch who you're talking to"

"I'm finished with your hair"

“Good now get out of my sight”.  

Once done she went back downstairs to help her sister, who was now in the bathtub. After helping her wash her long curly hair and picking out a pair of PJs; their mom yelled for them.  

“Were leaving, don’t open the door for no one and if you try leaving again your punishment will be worse than last time.” And with that, she left.  

This was one of the only times they had peace. She was able to get some work done and plan out her sister’s sixteenth birthday party. Birthdays and holidays were the only time they were ever happy. Probably because that was one of the only times their parents acted like loving parents. So that they could keep the facade of having the perfect family. That night her parents stayed at a hotel, which wasn't unusual for them and Mara got a good night's sleep something she hadn’t gotten in a while.