Hi, my name is Cochava. This is a piece of the story of my life. A very significant piece... I think.

Before I get started, I feel it necessary to give you a name. I don't want to give you just any name so it will take a minute for me to give it some thought. Okay, I've got it. Rochelle. It's the Hebrew name for Rachel.

So, anyway, now that you have a name, I can continue.

I'm going to tell you something that you cannot tell another soul. It's a big secret and if anybody finds out I'm afraid of what will happen.

You're probably wondering what I could know that can be so dangerous? Well, I'll tell you. It's about Mr. Bronson. I guess you'd say I'm friend's with his daughter, since I go to her quarters all the time. But I don't like going there. You know why? Her dad is mean to me. Well, not just her dad. She and her brother are too. But her dad's the worst.

It all started when we were living on the Aviator. When I was five I went to play with Jenna at her place and when I went to go to the bathroom, Mr. Bronson followed me. He made me take off all my clothes and just looked at me. I was embarrassed, but I thought that it was okay. After all, my dad gave me baths all the time back then. It must have been alright for any grown-up to see me naked.

But I was wrong. After that, every time I went to Jenna's house he would take me into his room and make me lay on the bed. He would touch me in my privates and tell me that if I told anybody about it he would kill my family, including my baby brother. My Imma has had another baby since then too.

That went on for about two years. I'd go to Jenna's house almost every day and I would never have fun. Of course, whenever my Imma or Abba came to pick me up I had to make up a bunch of stuff because they'd always ask me what I did.

When I was seven my Abba got transferred to Deep Space Nine and I thought that I'd be safe. But, unfortunately, I wasn't. Three weeks after we moved in, Jenna's family ended up being transferred here as well. In fact, their quarters are just down the hall.

Jenna and I go to the same school together, but I always leave early, so I don't have to walk with her. But somehow I always end up walking home with her. She asks me to, and I know that if I don't go with her, her dad is going to hurt me. At least that's what happened last time. I told her that I didn't want to play, but the next time I was over, her brother, Kyle, started calling me a "Stupid Bitch" and he was hitting me. He's fourteen and a real meanie. He's almost as bad as his dad. Almost.

So, ever since that day, I've never refused an invitation from any of them, unless I have to go somewhere with my family, in which case I have my Imma or Abba tell them.

I'm really confused, though. Mr. Bronson tells me that my parents know about what he does to me. That he got their permission. He said that I'm always a bad girl and that they asked him to punish me. I don't know if I should believe him or not, but then again, there was that time that I called my Abba crying and asked him to pick me up, but he never came. I'm so confused.

Today, when I was over there, Kyle held me down on the bed, naked, while Mr. Bronson lit a Shabbat candle and put it in my private, much like he does with his private. It hurt so bad, but they told me that if I screamed they'd kill me. I was so scared.

Yesterday Mr. Bronson took a Shabbat candle and set my breast's on fire. I was trying so hard not to cry when he took his hands and shoved my chest to put the fire out. I wanted to cry so badly, but Mr. Bronson doesn't allow crying. When I was little I used to cry, and he'd throw me into the wall, or slap me across the face. So now I don't cry. Not even at home.

Today I didn't bring my lunch to school. I haven't for the last couple of days, on purpose. Mr. Bronson is always telling me that I'm fat and ugly, and at first I didn't believe him. But now, I don't know. Maybe he's right? Maybe everybody thinks that, but he's the only one mean enough to tell me.

So, I'm going on a diet. Imma goes on diets a lot, but this one is a little different. I'm only going to have a piece of toast for breakfast, with no butter, and a little bit of dinner.

When Mrs. O'brien found out that I didn't have a lunch she offered me some of hers. But, because I'm Jewish, I can't eat anything that's not Kosher, I had to refuse, though I didn't mind. Plus, I'm a vegetarian, and Mrs. O'brien brings dead animal to school for lunch AN: If she's a vegetarian also, I'm very sorry. so I wouldn't eat it anyway.

Today, though, when I didn't have my lunch again, she told me that she was going to call my Imma. She said that she was worried. I assured her that it was alright, that I was eating a really big breakfast and dinner, and that my Imma was much too busy to talk about things that didn't matter. Nevertheless, she called her anyway.

So, tonight, after I got home from the Bronson's house I told my Imma that I had eaten there. She made me eat with them anyway. She told me that I had to have a little bit of everything, if not more. She offered me dessert, but I declined, saying that I was full. Of course, I didn't eat at the Bronson's, but she didn't have to know that. I got away with eating less than I normally do.

You know what's really strange though? Ever since I started my diet I've been tired and the room seems to always be spinning. Is that what happens when you go on a diet?

I hope she doesn't think I'm sick. At first, I was telling her that I wasn't hungry because I wasn't feeling good. She was a little concerned, but I've now been telling her that I ate at the Bronson's and she believed me. She may not believe it for much longer.

Well, it's getting late. I need to get some sleep. I'll talk to you tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Cochava Pearlman.