Mia cried out and collapsed to the ground, leaning on her knees and sobbing. Her 14 year old body shook with fear, jumping each time her father's hand slapped across her face.
She heaved another sob, inching towards a corner. Her father yanked her by the ankle and twisted it around with a crack. Mia screamed and held her ankle, rocking back and forth and sobbing.
Nine year old Mark stood in the doorway, holding his hands together. He flinched every time his father's hand struck his big sister's face, whispering for him to stop. But he couldn't be heard.
Their father finally slammed Mia against the wall and left, slamming the door behind him.
"Mia....?" Mark whispered, bending down next to her. His innocent little face was scared and worried, tears threatening to spill over.
Mia still rocked back and forth, her face pale. "I'm okay." she rasped, though it was obvious she wasn't.
"I heard you crack." Mark whispered, stumbling to help her. "He broke you." he said again, starting to cry.
"I'm already broken." Mia said quietly.
She heaved another sob, inching towards a corner. Her father yanked her by the ankle and twisted it around with a crack. Mia screamed and held her ankle, rocking back and forth and sobbing.
Nine year old Mark stood in the doorway, holding his hands together. He flinched every time his father's hand struck his big sister's face, whispering for him to stop. But he couldn't be heard.
Their father finally slammed Mia against the wall and left, slamming the door behind him.
"Mia....?" Mark whispered, bending down next to her. His innocent little face was scared and worried, tears threatening to spill over.
Mia still rocked back and forth, her face pale. "I'm okay." she rasped, though it was obvious she wasn't.
"I heard you crack." Mark whispered, stumbling to help her. "He broke you." he said again, starting to cry.
"I'm already broken." Mia said quietly.