Surviving the day is half of the battle.
It begins at dusk.
Yelling words echo off the empty halls,
down to a little girl’s room.
She hides her sisters as the sound grows louder,
bracing them for what is about to happen.
The yelling turns to screams,
the screams to cries,
and the cries to silence.
A loud hit adrups the noise.
There the little girl hides,
hides from the monster.
She feels him drawing closer.
She hides under her bed away from his painful touch.
He lumbers into the room,
smelling her fear.
He reaches for her but she is just barely out of harm's way.
He howls in frustration,
unable to reach the shivering mouse.
Sirens wail in the distance at last.
Her mother had called for help.
Knights come and take away the beast.
He utter curses vowing to get his vengeance.
The little girl finds her sisters,
no harm done to them.
Her mother wears a new bruise,
tears race down her face.
They leave their home for now it is broken.
They find refuge in their aunt’s house.
Silent tears stream down from girl’s shattered eyes.
They sleep knowing that this is only a temporary safe haven.