fathers voice. With a shaking body, I made my way slowly to him, praying silently to God to save me.

"Daddy, please, I'm weak, see my body is shaking. I'm very tired, please daddy–" a loud slap landed on my face making me fall to the ground.

I couldn't even cry out anymore, tears only flowed out of my eyes freely. My body was too weak to stand back up and my eyes were too swollen to close them or blink.

"Did I ask you to talk? Worthless child, just like your mother. I should have thrown you out or killed you a long time ago," he shouted at my almost unconscious body on the floor. He would have thrown me out or killed me a long time ago but he did not

Why?....

"Get up and take off that filthy dress of yours," father commanded making my heart skip several beats.

It was not the first time he had asked for that, in fact, I did not think there was ever going be a last.

"Daddy, please I'm begging you, another time...." I began to plead knowing the kind of pain that was coming my way.

"If you don't shut up, I'll give you another dirty slap. Will you do as I've said?!" He shouted again but I just laid there, motionless.

There was nothing I could do, he was obviously stronger than I was and no matter how I shouted I knew neighbors would not hear and besides, it was already late for them to do anything.

When he saw I was not planning on moving, he left his bed and pulled me–scratch that, he practically dragged my weightless body with all his force and in the process, I hit my knee on the wooden frame of the bed, causing another round of pain for me.

I kept mumbling apologies for what I did not do wrong but he was too concentrated on tearing my clothes off my skin.

"This is the simple thing I asked you to do. You can't do anything in this life!" Father growled already unbuckling his belt and dropping his trouser down his legs.

Oh God let this be the day I die. Let me not wake up by tomorrow. I want to die. Please God.

With that last prayer in mind, I shut my eyes closed.

Then I heard and knew nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

My very own father was doing his business on top of me like nothing else in the world mattered. I knew I was crying, screaming, but I could not even hear myself. The pain I felt between my legs were so much that it made everything around me a blur.

"Please stop," I croaked lowly.

My breathing was fast but I could feel my heart beat decrease.

I understood nothing but that sharp pain between my legs as he thrusted harder inside me. Blood flowed down my legs, staining the mattress but this man did not care.

I was loosing too much blood.

It was just a month since I flushed the baby that was growing inside me. The baby he made to grow inside me. And during the period of abortion, I almost lost my life. I lost so much blood.

The doctor told him to make me do lesser work and eat healthier food. But did this wicked excuse for a father listen? No.

He made me clean the house, hawk tomatoes and pepper for money, gave me less or no food and then....raped me. All because he was drunk or depressed.

I watched a lot of news about how men were persecuted for rape. And trust me the thought of reporting has crossed my mind a lot of times.

But just imagine what he could do to me if anyone found out what went on in my house. My mother wasn't leaving with us, she was in another state taking care of my brother. I would've told her but he threatened her life. And I've seen the way he beat her up to stupor just because the food wasn't ready, imagine him knowing she knew what he did to me. He'd kill her...then come to me, and kill me, slowly. Just to hide his tracks.

"You stupid child better stay alive!" I blinked back to reality to realize he was still on top of me.

But his face did not seem clear any longer. Nothing around me was. That was when I knew it was my end. How I would die.

A rape victim.

*********

~ELIZABETH~

I screamed jerking upright on the bed. My body was shaking in fear and was wet with sweat. Still hyperventilating, I stared at the clock on the wall. 4:56am.

It was just a dream, another nightmare of my past.

Taking the bed sheet off my body, I made my way slowly to the bathroom to splash water on my face, just to ease my self.

Knowing I was not going to find sleep again, I decided to take my bath. It was five already. The drive to my work was about an hour.

•••••••