Winona watched Sharpay as she lay on her bunk, her decoupage shrine of the latest teeny bopper heartthrob momentarily abandoned by the dramatics of her older foster sister.
The tiny child watched Sharpay for a few moments. She knew this moment. She had yet to reach it herself, but she had seen it before with the other children that had come through.
"You're not the only one, y'know," she finally said. Sharpay did not stir, so Winona continued, "What he'd use? Belt or just his fists? Everyday or just when he was pissed? Just Ryan or you too?" There was silence for a long while, harsh and thick. Winona listened to Sharpay's breathing before crawling up in bed next to her and whispering sympathetically, "Are you scared?"
Sharpay wept then. Even as Winona lifted her up and let her cry into her sweater, she wept. There was a movement and then Winona's thin arms were gone, replaced by the strong embrace of Beverley. She smelled like Pear soap and sugar cookies. Beverley rocked her and whispered her love to her and Sharpay began to feel drowsy in her arms.
"Don't worry, you don't have to visit him if you don't want to," Beverley assured her, "I promise. Everything's gonna be all right. There now."
Sharpay drew in a breath, and beleived her.