Bright, silver-blue moonlight fell upon my face one late fall night. All was calm tonight, for once, no loud stomping of royal navy boots outside, no yelling, no caribbean storms, all quiet. I was used to loud yelling and cursing all the time, this quiet is a special treat. It was the middle of the night, probably about 3 a.m. or something. My father would be so mad if he knew I was up now, but hey, he is asleep, so who cares...Or so I thought...

I heard heavy footsteps coming torwards my door...It was father, I knew it was before he got to the door. I quickly closed mye eyes, and tryed my best to looked asleep. The door creaked loudly as my father slowly walked over to my bed, to see if I was asleep. I had thought that he beleived I was asleep, but I was wrong. I felt a cold,hard hand slap my cheek.

"How dare you try to trick me little Miss Anne..." He whispered in my ear, as I tryed to cower away. Let's just say, I'm Anne Marie Matthews, I'm 14 years old, I live in Port Royal, with my father. My mother had left and deserted me and my father when I was only about 3, I only remember my mother a little, just her face, and her laugh, her laugh was...unexplainable...One of the only things I remember about her. Well, when she left, my father just got more, and more aggressive torwards me. Now he drank, he drank alot, either he was asleep, drunk, eating, or beating me most of the time. I've about had enough, I'm about to leave forever...but, if I do, my father will probably not know what to do to survive, and I wouldn't be able to live knowing he was helpless, no matter how much he beats me.

After he slapped me a few times, he left the room yelling "Now get to sleep, and no more trying to trick me!" I sat up in my bed, pulled my knee's up to my chin, and buried my face in my hands, not crying though, I've about gotten used to him beating me, but I was busy thinking. I was thinking if I should finally leave, and if I did, where I would go. I could go to my old friends house...who was moving and was pretty much abandoning me..Or I could sneak onto some Navy ship...or maybe even a pirate ship! Being a pirate would be a dream come true for me...It would be so adventurous and be such a free life. One other choice, probably the best...would be to go to The governer's mansion, I know his daughter, Elizabeth Swann a little. Whenever I went outside to help my father with chores, she would usually say 'Hi' or wave. I decided to go to the governer's mansion. But...it was only 3:45 a.m in the morning...

At the moment I really didn't care how late it was, I wanted, and needed out of this life. I packed a case with all my clothes, which was about a weeks worth of clothing. Two dresses, which I hate, I hate dresses, then just some black pants and white shirts. I looked in the mirror, I had a huge red hand mark on my left cheek, and a black eye on the right side. I looked horrible, but, who care? I wrote a small note that said...

Dear Father,

I have decided to leave, as in leave for
good. I am sick and tired of being beat
and I just plain hate living here. I am
going to feel really bad about leaving you,
but I really need to leave. Don't come
for me, I will take care of myself well.
I love you father...

love,
Anne

I picked up my case, and put the note on the front door, where I hoped he would find it. I then started walking torwards the governers mansion.