As her mother hit her, Olivia went somewhere else in her mind, somewhere that no one could hurt her or scare her. Here, she was loved and sheltered and safe.
Olivia had learned over the years that her body would be her friend if she let it. all she had to do was stay still and not fight back, and when the pain became too much for her to bear, her body would rescue her and take her to this safe haven. She would float up in the sky, away from her body, safe.
But when it was over, she crashed back down to earth. Her face was badly bruised, her eye was starting to swell, and there were angry red welts lining her arms. She was a mess.
Olivia dragged herself onto her bed and fell into a fitful sleep, laying on her stomach so as not to disturb the series of dark bruises that had accumulated on her back.