Conway PV
"Mommy? Mommy please wake up!" I try waking mommy's unmoving bloody body.
"I thought I told you to stop whimpering like a woman!" Daddy's angry voice roars as he grabs me by the collar, my feet dangling in the air.
"I am sor-", daddy's palm makes contact with my face cutting me off. My glasses fall to floor making my vision blurry. It hurts. It hurts a lot but daddy said that I mustn't cry.
"Shut up!", daddy yells and drops me to the floor. Through my blurry vision I see him unfasten his belt.
"Strip and lie down on the floor! You are a McPherson and you will act like one. Am I making myself clear?"
I nod as I strip down to my underwear and lie on the floor. He always does this, why does he always do this?
"I didn't catch that?", he roars at me.
"Sir yes sir!"
The ceramic tiles are cold under me. I shiver with cold, anticipating what is to come.
A yelp leaves my mouth, I couldn't stop it, as a sharp pain shoots through my back. With every snap of the belt, my body stings. The hits are continuous and it hurts so much. I want my mommy.
Mommy! Please help me!
I wake up soaked in sweat. I sit up straight on my bed as I try to even my breath. My chest moves rapidly as I breathe heavily.
The nightmares just won't go away. They've been going on for all these years, I don't know what to do anymore. Mom and I have been free from that monster for almost five years now. I don't understand why I still get them.
I switch on the bedside lamp and look at the clock on the wall. It's a little blurry so I pull out my phone and see that it's only three a.m and I'm not going back to sleep. Won't risk having a repeat of the same dream. It's torture.
My mind drifts to something else. Or rather someone. Diako. It's odd how she is suddenly so forlorn. She's always been vibrant.
She even discerned her fault today. She apologized, even offered to wash my hoodie. Now that's a first. These thoughts race through my mind until I'm engulfed in a deep slumber.
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Thanks to the fucking nightmares and stupid Diako, I'm late for class. I walk in the class and as expected Miss Johnson is already inside. I make my way to my seat.
"Oh would you look at that, the oaf is late. But isn't he supposed to arrive before everyone else? Some head boy he is." I stop dead in my tracks as I turn to look at her.
"Sorry what was that?" I ask not really sure I heard right.
Who does she think she is? Yeah well that's the Diako I know. Could have fooled me with the "I'm shy all if a sudden" facade.
Her eyes widen as she realizes that she voiced her thoughts.
"You're late McPherson." The teacher says. I turn and send her a fake apologetic smile.
"Yeah right. Tell me something I don't know." I mutter.
I settle in my seat at the back and shoot Diako a cold look.
We will definitely have a talk about this you and I, Diako.
Whitney Houston's "dance with somebody" screeches in the room. Miss Johnson retrieves a phone from her handbag and walks out of the room.
"Oh. My. Gosh. So the dork talks." Anathi's unpleasant voice says as she teases Diako.
I look at Diako and see her roll her eyes up as she heaves a sigh. She takes a pencil in her hand and starts drawing? I don't clearly see.
Anathi stands up and walks up to Diako yanking her by the arm, almost making her fall.
"Hey dork I'm talking to you. Are you deaf or just dumb?" Diako simply yanks her arm out of Anathi's grasp and literally ignores her like she isn't standing right next to her.
Miss Johnson walks in just as Anathi's about to say something. She whispers something in Diako's ear, that leaves a brooding look in Diako's eyes.
Wonder what she said.
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