Age 7

Julian winced in pain when the private doctor checked his wrist. The bruise was black and purple from the fracture. "Ok sweetie," the doctor said, smiling at him, "your wrist should be ok. Just give it a few days."

Julian avoided her gaze and nodded. The doctor packed her kit up, and left the kitchen. Julians dad glared at him and told him to leave. Julian stood, and almost ran from the room.

Later that night...

Julian had just finished his homework when his dad walked into his room. Julian took a deep breath, and bit the inside of his cheek, wishing he wasn't about to get hit.

"Yeah?" He asked.

"What is this about you stealing some kids money?"

"I... I don't know."

"Really. You don't remember pickpocketing some kids of their lunch money?"

"Well... you gave me absolutely none! I'm starving dad."

"I don't give you money when you're ill behaved."

"I haven't been!"

His dad turned around when Chloe walked into the room. "Whats wrong?" Chloe asked.

"Your brother's been stealing money."

"Why?"

"I'm starving Chloe!" Julian cut in.

Right as he cut in, his father slapped him in the face. Julian fell to the floor and cried out as he landed on his wrist. Chloe bit her lip and said to their dad, "It's kind of true. He's 7 and I can count his ribs."

"He's fine! Chloe, leave."

Chloe nodded and left, stealing a glance at her brother. Julian squirmed as his dad threw him on the bed. Going to the far corner, he curled up into a ball as his dad stared at him. Julian looked up as he heard the clanking of a belt. He eyed the belt in his dad's hands, feeling tense.

"Get. Over. Here. Now." His dad grounded out. Julian started to cry, gasping for breath. No one had ever hit him with a belt before. He slowly crawled over to his dad, and stared at the ground.

"Hands on the wall. Take your shirt off."

Julian slowly did as commanded, shaking. He flinched as the first belt strike hit his back. Then the second, then the third. Once they were at 14, he started scream/ crying. Once they reached 30, the felt something wet running down his back. His dad stopped and put his belt back on. Julian slid down the wall, not facing his dad. He started to rock himself still crying while his dad watched, a small smirk on his lips.

"Get up." His father commanded. Julian complied and followed his dad into the bathroom. He sat on the closed lid of the toilet while his dad wet a towel. He took the offered towel from his dad, and wiped his back off. He shuddered when he saw the blood on the towel. "D.. dad?"

"Oh, what now? Come on, its a little blood. Man up."

Julian bit his lip and continued to wipe his back as his dad walked away.

Age 8

"Your grades are terrible Julian! A 89% in math! A 93% in english! Really?! Maybe no food will teach you something." Julians mother shouted at him. He groaned quietly and flinched when his mother hit him and his father watched. She grabbed his sore arm from a previous beating and dragged him into the basement. It was extremely cold, and wet. She shut and locked the door behind him. He shivered and curled up into a ball, wishing death among his parents.