I woke up in my small room and looked around. The clock on my wall said that is was 5:30 in the morning. I didn't have to be up until 6:15 for school. By the look of my room, you wouldn't be able to tell that I lived in maybe the worst foster home in all of Canada, but I did. My room was nice. White walls with white curtains. A twin sized bed with a small dresser on the adjoining wall. The room had to be nice for when the social workers made their surprise visits. I walked into my bathroom. My body still hurt.I look in the mirror and remember what happened last night.

I had to stay after school to get help on my mid-term math project. Algebra was not my forte. When I finally got home I was 45 minutes later than what I am normally allowed. I walked up to my house, my head down shielding my face from the wind. The rain was starting to reveal we were getting an unexpected storm as if the universe knew what was going to happen when I walked in the door. I walked up the stairs and opened the door. My foster father, John was standing there a stern look on his face. I look down and hang up my jacket in the mud room.

"Where have you been?" he said quietly.I could already smell the alcohol coming off of him. John was an alcohol.

"I...I had to stay late at school." I whisper scared to speak. "I have a math project that I needed my teachers help on. I'm sorry I'm so late sir."

"What time are you supposed to be home?" He looked down at his crossed arms with a forced laugh.

I look down.

"3:30 sir. No later."

"And what time is it?"

I look at the clock in our mud room.

"4:17" I say in a whisper

"4:17. Go into your room well I think about what your punishment is gonna be. I'll be in soon." He walks away towards his bedroom.

I go into my room and sit on my bed waiting. After what seems live ages John comes into my room with a black leather belt.

"Your punishment is one lash for every five minutes you were late. Now seeing as you were late because of a math project how many lashes is that?"

I close my eyes and lower my head.

"Nine lashes sir."

"That's right now you know the drill."

I turn around and kneel in front of him. I take a deep breath and suddenly feel the first lash against my upper back. I let out a sob as my back begins to burn and I feel the welt already starting to raise. I count aloud after each lash with the belt.

When he is finished he leaves and I curl up on the floor too afraid to cry. Once I realized that he was not coming back I crawled to my bathroom. I struggled to get myself into my bathtub but once I finally did I turned on the water and let the cold water fall onto my back. I bite my lip as the icy water lands on my back. Soon the welts are numb and I feel as if I can breathe again. I turn the water off then get up. I slowly put on my pajamas, flannel pants and a loose tee shirt than just go to bed crying myself to sleep .

I look in the mirror and wipe the stray tear that has fallen down my cheek. I wash my face then walk out in my room to my dresser. I open it and take out a bra and underwear then put them on. As I'm standing there trying to think of what to put on that isn't already dirty I hear my door open.

" Good Morning Makayla."

It's John. I was hoping so badly that he would stay asleep well I was getting ready for school. He doesn't care that I'm in my underwear, in fact, he likes it. He walks up behind me and undoes the clasp on my bra.

"You're not gonna be needing this quite yet baby"

I lower my head and gasp as his hands hit the welts on my back. His right-hand slides down my side as I feel his lips on my neck. His hand goes to the top of my underwear and he slowly pulls them down.

"Get on the bed." He growls in my ear.

"Yes John" I whisper and start to walk away. He grabs my hair and I yelp as he yanks me back.

"Excuse me!" He says.

"Yes sir! I meant to say yes sir! I'm sorry." He let goes as I walk over to the bed and lay down. He comes over to me starting to take off his pants and I close my eyes and pray to anything out there that I can be anywhere but here.

After he is done he leaves and I get up and get dressed. I put on my jeans and a black tee. I go into my bathroom and put my make-up on to hide the redness of my eyes. When I am done I grab my bag and leave my house quickly. It's a chilly morning seeing as it is early fall. I sigh as the cool air feels good on my back. After about 20 minutes a red car pulls up next to me. I smile as the window rolls down and I see my best friend Robbie Kay.

" Hey, Makayla you need a ride?"

I nod and get into his car then buckle up. He starts to drive and I yawn. He chuckles.

"I was going to Starbucks before going to school. You want anything?"

I shake my head.

"I only have my lunch money."

"Oh don't worry about that I'll pay for it. No problem ok?" He looks at me and smiles with his emerald green eyes as we come to a stop light. I can't help but smile back at him. He keeps driving talking about how dumb the math homework was last night as I just zone out.

"kay? Hello, earth to Makayla…Are you even listening to me?"

I shake the thoughts out of my head and look at him.

"huh, what?"

He chuckles and runs his finger through his brown hair.

"I was talking to you but you were off in la la land"

I look down at my hands fidgeting as Robbie pulls into Starbucks. He turns off the engine and looks at me.

"Hey look at me? You ok love?" He says with such concern in his voice as he puts his hands softly over mine.

I slowly nod not even looking at him. You see Robbie had no idea what John did to me. Not a clue. After being in my foster home for four years I got pretty good at hiding the marks and trauma but when what happened this morning happens I think I can be forgiven for being a little distant.

"Whats going on Kay? Wait is it your time of the-"

"Robert Kay finish that question I dare you!" I snap at him as any woman would when asked that question. He holds his hands up in defense.

"OK OK just asking you don't need to bite my head off. I hit him playfully on the shoulder then get out of his car. I walk towards the door and he grabs my wrist gently turning me towards me. I look up at him. He was a good six inches taller than me

"I mean it, are you alright? You're not being your normal self." I nod

"Ya, I'm alright. Just had a hard time getting up this morning. I'll be ok once I get some coffee in me." I smile and he looks me over for a moment longer as if he is looking for the reason his friend is upset but sighs when he can't figure it out.

"Alright, if you say so. Let's go." He lets his hand slide off my wrist and he takes my hand interlocking our fingers then leads me into the crowded coffee shop.