I turned my stereo up even louder than it already was to try and block out the sounds of fighting coming from the dining room. The yelling had been getting steadily louder for the last hour, and now I could hear things smashing and breaking. Something had set my brother off during dinner, and it looked like it was gonna be one of those nights, the type that usually involved emergency personnel of some kind arriving before the evening was over.

I went over and checked the lock on my door one more time. But I knew if my brother really wanted to get in here, he could just break it. He had before.

Something large and heavy crashed loudly against a wall or door somewhere near the kitchen, and I couldn't help but let out a little scream. I dived under my bed and tried to go to my 'safe place,' like my therapist had taught me.

"I'm in my safe place. I'm in my safe place."

My safe place is full of pretty flowers and sparkly rainbows and beautiful beaches. The weather is always nice and sunny, and there are friendly animals there to play with: cute puppies, talking dolphins, placid ponies and gentle giraffes, wise unicorns and helpful chimps, and a brave white lioness who protects little kittens.

"I'm in my safe place. I'm in my safe place."

I was having trouble focusing on my safe place right then. I kept thinking about how I was behind in my schoolwork, and about how hard it was to concentrate on my homework with all that racket going on. I was thinking about what the neighbours must have been thinking. Thinking about how much of a mess my brother makes sometimes; about how bad it is when he breaks into my room during one of his 'moods.' And I thought about how my parents keep promising me a stronger lock for my door, but then always forget.

Something shattered outside, a window I think, and the neighbour's dog started barking just as crazily as my brother.

"Iminmysafeplace! I'minmysafeplace! I'minmysafeplace!"

But I knew I wasn't safe, not really.

Without realising it, I had taken my phone from my pocket, and was just about to dial Jade. I often went to her place when things got really bad at my house. Then I remembered that she had gone out for dinner with her Dad. She wouldn't be able to help me tonight.

I wished I was as brave as her.

I also wished I was strong enough to move my furniture by myself, and build a barricade across my bedroom door. I wished I could be a superhero, like the one I'd dressed up as once for a school project. Then I would be super-strong and super-tough, and I could rearrange my furniture whenever I wanted, and nobody could hurt me anymore.

I suddenly got another idea that didn't involve heavy lifting or developing superpowers. Wiping the tears from my eyes so that I could focus on the screen of my Pearphone, I found Tori's number and began typing a text:

its really crazy here right now

can i come over?

I added a scared-looking, teary-faced emoticon ('cos a picture is worth a thousand words, and I didn't have unlimited texting on my current plan), and hit send. I wasn't sure whether Tori would agree to it. It had only been a week since our 'fun girls' night,' and although she seemed to be over the worst of her reservations, I was concerned it might be a little too soon for her to have some one-on-one time with me without still feeling a little awkward. I wanted to give her space, but I also knew that if I didn't get out of here soon, I might just go permanently insane.

I was relieved when she texted me back a couple minutes later:

sure come on over

stay the night if you want

do you need a lift?

She had included a little smiley face, and I felt silly for worrying. Tori was a good friend, and would always help me whenever I really needed her to. I quickly texted back a 'thanks,' and told her I'd ride my bike over. I didn't want to cause her any more trouble than I already had.

I crawled out from under my bed, turned off my music, and hastily threw some things into my backpack, stuffing Mr Purple in on top. The yelling and commotion was still going on somewhere towards the back of the house. Quietly unlocking my door, I peered outside to check if the coast was clear. Seeing that it was, at least for the time being, I dashed towards the front door, yelling over my shoulder: "Mom! Dad! I'm spending the night at Tori's. Bye!"

Something flew into the wall above my head with a crash-and-splat, some of the leftovers from dinner I presumed, though I didn't stick around to find out. With a little shriek, I ducked through the front door and slammed it shut behind me. And then I was on my bike and away down the street, peddling as fast as I could towards Tori's place, rounding the corner just as the first police car pulled up, lights flashing, outside the circus freak-show that was my home.