Chapter 19

I wake up with a start, my heart pounding in my chest. I know what's coming next. I try to calm myself down, to reason with myself that it won't happen again, that maybe tonight will be different, but deep down, I know it won't. It never is.

And then I hear the door creak open. I hold my breath, hoping that maybe it's just my imagination playing tricks on me, but then I feel the weight of his presence in the room. I can smell his scent and feel the roughness of his hands as he reaches out to touch me.

"No, please don't hurt me," I plead, my voice trembling. But he doesn't listen. He never does. Instead, he laughs, a cruel, mocking sound that chills me to the bone.

It's like this every night. Every night, he comes into my room and touches me, but when I resist, he beats me. I'm crying, begging him not to hurt me, but he's enjoying my screams. And I know that no one will come to help me. I'm all alone.

I cower in fear as I feel his large, calloused hands striking my small, fragile body.