Her hands grazed the molded wood steps in her small house. The damp, mildew smell was normal for her as she rested her head on the step she was laying on. A tall, fat man with a scruffy beard that covered nearly all of his face, stood at the base of the stairs.
"Ashley, I'm on my way to a meeting. Listen to your brother. I'll be home soon." And with that he turned, grabbed his flannel lumberjack button-up and left the small house.
Ashley blinked, still resting on the step, as a tear rolled down her face. She knew father didn't have a meeting. She knew where he was going. She knew the kind of man her father was, and her brother was no better. She knew these things, and she was only six. Normal six year olds are sitting in front of the television watching Sesame Street or learning how to ride a bike. They have mom's that teach them how to tie their shoes or take them grocery shopping. Most kids would complain about the shopping, but Ashley would give her left leg to even have a mom to take her. Instead she has a drunk father and a nasty brother, who both blame her for her mothers death.
"Oh Ashley," A voice chimed behind her at the top of the stairs. She knew who it was and she didn't want to acknowledge him. "Ashley, dad just left. It's time to play."
She closed her eyes, wishing he would just go away and leave her alone.
"Ashley, get up here right now!" He yelled. Bradley was her fourteen year old brother that never saw Ashley as an adorable little sister, but as a toy to fill his sick fantasies.
Ashley squeezed her eyes shut as more tears spilled from them. She rolled over and looked up into his twisted face, a cigarette hung from his lips. He looked like her father without a beard. He inhaled, the cherry glowing red, and exhaled, smoke billowing from his lips and nose.
"The sooner we do this, the better."
You're stupid. Ashley thought to herself. She didn't know what else to think. She was never harsh or mean, at least, she wasn't like Bradley.
He stomped down the stairs and grabbed her arm, dragging her up into the hallway with him. She tried to struggle, she tried to get out of his grip, but being eight years older than her, he was much stronger.
"You always fight it. Why can't you, for once, just let it happen?" He demanded, taking another drag from his cigarette. He pushed her into his room and closed the door.
"Bradley, please," Ashley pleaded. He stepped closer and gripped her shoulder. She started to sob quietly, because she knew that if she cried louder than a whisper, she would be met with a black eye, again.
Bradley pulled down the strap of her dress, mumbling words Ashley couldn't understand, big words. He bend down and pressed his lips on her neck, running his fingers through her long, black hair.
"B-Bradley, please sto-" He yanked on her hair, pulling her head back.
"Shut up, bitch." He hissed in her ear.
The tears wouldn't stop, the crying wouldn't cease. He pushed her to the floor and climbed on top, unbuttoning his jeans.
She couldn't take it any more. Ashley fumbled for anything she could get her hands on. Her survival instincts kicked in. She let her mind take over, to do anything that would get him off before it was too late. She felt around on the old shag carpet and brushed her hand on something hard. She didn't know what it was, but she gripped it hard and swung. The object crashed against Bradley's head and he fell to the side, yelling in pain. Ashley stood up and ran out the bedroom and down the stairs. She didn't grab a coat, she didn't grab her shoes. She just grabbed the door knob of the front door and ran. She ran as hard as she could down the street. The warm summer night felt hot on her bare arms. Her feet pattered on the cement, slowing pace when she started to lose her breath.
She finally stopped running and then stopped moving altogether. She turned and looked behind her and found no one was following. Ashley could finally breath normally, knowing Bradley wasn't following her anymore. She look at her hand where she was still clenching the blunt object. It was a snow globe, one she recognized as her mothers. The glass bulb was shattered and blood was dripping from it. She dropped the object and stepped back, fear racing through her veins.
What if I killed him?
Ashley started to run again. The farther she got, the better. She turned corners and found herself at a dead end, a cul de sac. She started walking to the nearest house that seemed the least scariest. The door was painted a bright red and hung by the peep hole was a gold "D". She approached the door and knocked. There was shuffling beyond the door and finally someone answered. A small boy about her age with light brown hair and a bright red ball cap resting on his head. She didn't know him, of course she wouldn't. Her father never sent her to school.
"Theodor, who's at the door?" A woman called from inside the house.
"Some girl..." The boy said, eyeing Ahley.
The woman walked up behind the boy and looked at Ashley. Immediately Ashley began to cry.
"Oh my goodness, she's hurt," The woman scooped Ashley into her arms and carried her inside. The house smelled of warm biscuits and butter. It was warm and inviting and Ashley knew she had chosen the correct house.
"Don't send me back," She sobbed. She couldn't go back.
A tall man came into view and took Ashley's hands and examined the damage. She didn't even realize her hand was cut from the glass of the snow globe.
"Easy fix," He said, giving Ashley a smile.
She sniffed and smiled back.
"What's your name sweetie?" The woman asked.
"Ashley," The girl squeaked. "Ashley Hensley."
"Hello Ashley. My name is Janet and this is Sam," She put her hand on the mans shoulder. "This is our son Theodor, and this," The woman reached around a corner and pulled on a girls sleeve. "This is Becky, Theodor's older sister." The girl was slim and pretty with shoulder length brown hair like her brother and soft brown eyes. She smiled and waved.
"Ashley, could you tell us where you live?" Janet asked.
"No." She said. "I can't back there. He'll hurt me again," She reached up and touched the back of her head where Bradley pulled her hair.
"Where did he hurt you?"
She suddenly felt like a hermit crab. She didn't want to answer any questions. But she also knew that in order to stay, she would have to say something. She finally lifted her shirt, but not too high, and revealed the brown, yellow, black and blue discoloration in her ribs and stomach.
"Oh boy. Kids, to your room. We need to talk to miss Hensley alone." Sam demanded.
Becky left without question, but Theodor was a bit harder to let go. He finally left and the adults brought Ashley into their living room, giving her a glass of milk and some packaged cookies to keep her calm. They asked her to tell them everything about her family. So she did, to the best ability a six year old could do.
The two adults looked at each other and nodded in agreement.
"Ashley, how would you like to stay with us for a while, until we can figure out a permanent plan?" Sam asked.
"You mean, I don't have to go back?" She asked.
"No. You do not have to go back if you don't want to." Janet replied with a warm smile.
"Thank you!" Ashley leaped off the couch and embraced the couple in a hug.
