"So you fell down some stairs?" asks the doctor, skeptically. "And that's how you got the fist shaped bruise on your cheek and the hand prints around your wrist and the laceration on your forehead and-" he glances down and flips a page on his clipboard. "And the bruised rib?"

"Yeah." I say, staring him in the eyes with as much intimidation as I can muster while the nurse uses surgical glue to put my forehead back together. The glue stings as she dabs it into the cut, covers it with a square of white cotton and tapes the cotton onto my skin.

In my mind, the events of the last hour play on a loop. My dad screams at me, smashing my face into the banister while my mom cries in the background. I try to relax my muscles as I see his fist flying towards my face, because I know from extensive experience that that makes the blow hurt less. In my mind, I'm not actually the one being hit. I've learned how to separate from my body, so that its like I'm floating in the corner, watching myself get beaten without actually feeling it.

"Well, the good news is that the cut on your forehead is relatively minor and shouldn't leave any lasting mark. No Harry Potter scar for you."

"Incredible."

"I want you back here in a week so I can see how your rib is healing." The doctor instructs. I nod, knowing there is a zero percent chance I will come to a follow up appointment. The doctor finished dressing the wound on my forehead.

"All done! You're free to go. Don't forget to schedule an appointment with the nurse at reception." he adds as I leave the room speedily.

"Right, I will definitely do that." I mutter as I head to the exit.

"April!" calls Ann, following me down the hall. "April, wait up!"

"Stop stalking me, Perkins!" I try to speed up but my rib gives a sharp twinge of resistance and I have to restrain myself from grabbing my side in pain.

"April." Ann catches up to me, panting. "Where are you going?"

"The Grand Canyon." I say. "I hear it's beautiful this time of year."

"Where are you going now?" asks Ann again, ignoring my comment. "Are you going back to the person who did this to you?"

I pause, because I don't actually know where I'm going now. I don't really want to go home and give my dad the opportunity for a round two. Natalie is at some boys house, sleeping her way through the entire Pawnee High senior class. Andy is in Indianapolis.

"Orin." I say finally. "I'm gonna go sleep over at his house." This is an exaggeration because first of all, Orin's "house" is actually a tent in Ramsett Park and second of all I have no intention of going there. Most likely, I'm going to sneak back into my house through my bedroom window, if my rib will allow it.

"Is Orin the one who hurt you?" asks Ann. I scoff. Orin is built like a pipe-cleaner and couldn't hurt a chipmunk. He spends his days laying in the grass in front of his tent and chain smoking.

"Listen, April, I know we don't get along but I'm really worried about you right now." insists Ann. "It's okay that you don't want to talk to me about what happened but I just want to make sure that you're safe. Can I at least give you a ride home?"

I ponder the offer for a second. I'm heading home anyway. My dad has most likely passed out by now, I'd just have to sneak into my room without waking him. Tomorrow another honeymoon phase would begin and he would shower me and my mom and Natalie with gifts until the next beating. It's kind of like when you finally get your period and cramps are killing you but it's a relief in a way, because you know that in a couple of days, you have a whole month to not worry about getting it. If I'm heading home anyway, it would definitely be more comfortable to have a ride. It's cold out there and my ribs would thank me for taking it easy. "Sure." I concede. Ann's face lights up.

"Great! Let me go grab my keys and we'll go."

Ten minutes later, me and Ann are sitting in silence in her Honda Civic, pulling out of the hospital parking lot. We don't say anything during the ride except for me giving her directions to my house.

"Bye." I say when I get out of the car.

"I'm waiting until you get into the house safely." Ann insists. Oh, the irony. I roll my eyes and walk up the path when suddenly the front door swings open and my dad is standing in the doorway, huge and furious and not the slightest bit passed out, to my dismay.

"Where the fuck did you go?" He says in a loud, carrying voice. I am hyper aware of Ann staring at us from the driveway. I take a small step backwards. "Where is your sister?" demands Dad.

"Fuck if I know." I say, getting ready to run back to Ann. I hate the thought of Ann seeing all my personal business like this, and I know there will be no end to the questions, but at the moment, all I'm thinking of is escaping with my life. This is one of those life changing moments. There's no going back after tonight. My secret is out. However, I'm in no shape to take another beating. This could be a life or death moment and I can figure out logistics later, I need to get out of here now.

I see him wind up his fist and hear the grunt of exertion leave his lips as he swings his arm around and backhands me in the face with all the force he can muster. I can't help it, I hit the ground hard. My vision splits into two as my head smacks the wooden floor of the porch and I groan. I need to get back on my feet. I know I'll be okay if I can get back on my feet. Dad kicks me hard in the stomach and I see red across my vision. The pain is mind numbing and excruciating. In the back of my rapidly fading consciousness, I hear Ann shriek "April!" I feel my dad grab the back of my jacket and start to drag me into the house. With momentous force, I force myself to stay awake and fight back as much as I can. I am not going back into the house.

"Leave her alone!" shouts Ann at my dad. "I'm calling 911." I feel the hand drop the back of my shirt and my dad retreats back into the house, muttering "Bitches" under his breath. I squint up at Ann and try to focus my vision on her. She bends down and puts her arm under me, gently pulling me up and guiding me to her car. I lay down in the backseat as she starts the car and drives away from my house. As I watch the streetlights pass, only one thought passes through my head.

"I am never going back there again."