Sally. The beautiful. The fun. The one they all want. But what they don't know, is Sally doesn't talk much. Not really. Not about anything. Especially her father. Never replies when you mention him. Her father. Big and mysterious. But one week, Sally and I became close. For one week. It was a stressful time for her, and she was spilling a lot of tales. Here is one.
Once Sally came home. Peacefully and innocent, or so she said. Right before she pushed open the door, her father burst out. You evil child, he had yelled. Why? he asked. Then shoved her down the steps, and she tripped. Fell on her hands, and a crunch sounded when she did. Sally had tears running down her cheeks. What? I just got home, she cried. You stole my secret stash of money! he accused her. She stared. Not anywhere in particular. Just out in space. She heard of no secret stash, she had told me.
You keep money from me? she had said. There are things I could use, like a real bed. Her father didn't hear her. Blinded by hate. For his own daughter. Her father just kept hitting her, knocking the wind out of her. Sally never getting a breath in. Then a horrible one to the face, causing her to black out.
She had woken in her cellar. Cold and damp. Filled with mice. Annoying mice. The ones Alicia claimed to see. Sally was seeing them too. Sally looked around the cellar. Newspaper to her left. Dog bowl to her right. Hands aching, she stayed down there. Her father had made her stay there. For a long time. She wasn't sure how long. No windows. Couldn't tell. That was the reason she was not at school. Finally the reason was out. And Sally told me not to tell. But now I did. I'm sorry, Sally. But you're not my friend anymore.