Smash! That's all that Abby could hear down the stairs, the smashing of glasses and bottles. Either one of her parents were drunk, and she was betting it was her mother. Of course it was her mother, her father wasn't home yet, she had no idea where he was, and she didn't care, as long as he wasn't here she couldn't give a damn. Abby just had to stay away from her mum until she had sobered up, not that Abby ever tried to make a connection with her, she never saw the point. Her mother never helped her, so why should she have to make the unwanted effort. For now, Abby was content, this was the happiest she'd been in months, perhaps years, she'd just read her book and dream she was in that world, away from everything. The book provided an escape from the nightmare she was living. Even in this big house there was no getting away. So she read of far off lands, where people were living happily ever after, and she would join them there. Abby dreamed that one day this would be her, living with her prince charming far away from her family and everything she has ever known. She just wanted out!
Bang! The front door swung open. Dad was home… Abby knew what this meant for her, with her mother drunk this would only make father angrier and her. She never understood how this was all her fault, she merely accepted it with out a fight. Now there was shouting. But Abby never looked up from her book, hoping, wishing that if she read enough, maybe she'd be sucked into the book, and all her prayers would be answered. Unlikely, she knew, but she still had hope. Hope was all she had, a little girl can do nothing else. The screams and shouts grew louder and louder, Abby could hardly concentrate on the words, but she had to for her own sanity. A sudden smash, and all was quiet. My sister and brother were still asleep, how she wished she could sleep through this. Dreams were her other escape.
Thud! Abby knew what this was, the sound was too familiar, the worst sound in the world. She would rather hear screams of the innocent than this distinctive thud. It was her father walking up the stairs. She knew he wasn't going to bed, he never did when he came home, he always wanted her. She could never figure out why, all she knew is that both her mother and father told her it was her own fault. She was never told anything else, she has been told this for years, and years. Now this is what Abby believes. His heavy steps were getting closer, so Abby put the book down and hid it under her pillow. If they took it away from her, there is no way she would cope. She was strong, she hardly ever cried unless things got really bad, but that's because she had a book. No more foot steps, he was outside her door.