Chapter 16

“ Ok, if your friend’s parents are informed, that’s fine. We will have the release papers ready soon” “Thanks, Dr. Rollins,” I answered, still processing what was happening. “Alysa, what were you thinking?” “Calm down. I just saved your pretty ass, as always.”

“ Yeah, I know, thanks for that, but I have to go back to my parents” “No you don’t. You will stay at my place. “ “They will never allow this, and you know it.” “ Of course, they will give me your phone.”

“Hello Mrs. El Mourani Alysa’s here and I was wondering if Sophia could stay with me for a few nights? We have a school project to finish. It’s an art project which we have to finish together because it makes up 70% of our grades.

I looked out the window. Alysa is still on the phone.

I cringed at the thought of what might happen. My hands got sweaty, “it was nice doing business with you. We have already arranged everything”. I hear his voice so clearly in my head that it makes me almost throw up. The thought of marrying this guy. It drives me crazy all those thoughts of these voices, especially his. Why is he doing this to me? What have I done to deserve this? I feel my heart starting to race and my breath is becoming heavier and faster. I can’t do this. But what am I supposed to do? I feel tears streaming down my face. I’m shaking. Without me even noticing, I crawled up into a crying, frustrated mess. He hates me. He purely hates me, that’s for sure.

All my life he was like this, as long as I can remember, I was always “the little girl” but not in a cute, caring way like fathers would normally describe their kids. I was the black sheep of the family, the little girl who did everything wrong no matter what I did. One time in 1st grade, we had an art project. My brothers and I went home to show our parents what we had made. He was so proud as he looked at the pictures. Then he looked at mine and this expression changed. In the blink of an eye, his eyes got darker, as they already are. I just saw pure anger and disappointment. He took my picture, which I worked hours on. I drew my family sitting in the grass on a sunny day. Without even looking at it, he tore it apart. “ Girls are not allowed to be creative. They belong in the kitchen. Go to your room!” I heard him say.

I’m still crying when a voice brings me back to reality. “Sophia?” I looked at her. She almost screams because what she saw says nothing but pain.