Women are seen as weak and fragile beings who have no essence in life other than to be someone’s wife, to end up in the kitchen and not to relate to the world outside her husband’s. It’s either that or they are used as sexual objects, seen as an item to be toyed with and nothing more. The situation is saddening and sickening really. The world is nothing but cruel to the female specie, men are seen as lords, kings who the females should bow at their feet and worship.

The reverse should be the case as women should be seen as nothing but gems held in high standards. Women are the back-bones of this modern world and they should be seen as what they truly are, the leaders of leaders, queens of kings, they made the world what it is today, so they should be seen as what they truly are and not the other way around.

There was a knock at the door and it was nothing like you think, it was hard, loud and continuous. That was none other than Father’s signature knock, knocking like the man he was.

A MONSTER.

“I’m coming.”, that was my mum’s voice probably running from the kitchen where she was and hastily removing her apron as she head to the door, I’ve watched this scenario so many times I can say it without watching just like I did now from my bed. Mum had always made sure I was always in my room by the time he was to show up at home since well…it all started.

I heard a creak, mum had opened the door for him and once again had been rewarded for a job well done with a hit across her cheek making her almost loose her balance as she staggered a little before recovering.

“AND HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE YOU TO OPEN THE FUCKING DOOR, YOU SLUT.”, father’s drunken voice echoed the house as he yelled at his wife whom he married with love.

LIES.

Enforcing a lot more energy than before on the pencil, I wrote more jargons covering up the page of my assignment which I was meant to complete.

“I was…”, mum stuttered.

“I’M DEFINITELY NOT BUYING YOUR CRAP SO DON’T FEED IT TO ME.”, he said with a growl, his voice louder than before as I enforce more energy on the pencil, it hurts that I couldn’t do nothing to pacify the situation. It hurts so damn much.

If we could only leave this hell and this monster called my father, we would be so much happy.

I could hear his angry steps as he stomped the floor. “WHERE IS HE?”, he yelled.

“Who?”, mum’s shaky voice inquired. Her body would be shaking so damn much as she would be so scared of my father, her supposed husband who was meant to be good to her and not the way he was right now.

“SPEAK WOMAN!” , he commanded and sounded like the beast he was.

“No one…no one’s here, I…swear.”, mum stammered.

He laughed, he laughed? I looked at my pencil, it was blunt, it wouldn’t hurt if I pierced it into the bloody beast. I searched my room with my eyes as fast as I could and I spotted it, a sharpener, I inserted the pencil into it. “And who do you think you’re kidding, I know you too well to know that you’re keeping someone here, so don’t tell me otherwise.”, father’s voice went lower but loud enough for my sharp ears to hear clearly and mum’s yelp followed forward, he was probably pulling her hair.

I turned the pencil faster, hoping to go down before he lays another finger on her. But the fuck, the shit was not complying as it kept breaking. You’re at fault mum, I told you I needed a fucking blade.

“No one is here.”, mum pleaded to him.

“LIAR!”, he shouted throwing her to the ground as I heard her body connecting to ground.

I wanted to scream, but I remembered her word ‘Don’t make a sound’ I covered my mouth with my palms as I screamed into it.

“I’m saying the truth.”, she winced as she spoke.

“Really?”, his wicked voice asked.

“Yes.”, her voice came out low and weak like she had no more energy left in her.

“Okay , let’s go to our bedroom then.”, he said as I heard footsteps on the stairs followed.

The pencil had finally sharpened, I stared at the pointy part, and it was just as I wanted it. I ran to the door as I turned the knob and the door didn’t budge and I was once again reminded of the fact that I couldn’t do anything, mum had locked the door from the other side, she always did since that time for the fear of the past not repeating itself.

Shit.

I heard their bedroom door close followed by screams belonging to mum which resulted from whatever harm father was inflicting on her, not wanting to imagine the harm he inflicted on her that made her to scream continuously. I held unto the knob of my door as I hugged my knees to my body and wept, wept to dreamland, where torturing women were a norm, I chuckled, seemed like my world.

A few moments later, I felt my body move on the floor, my hand had slipped for the door knob to the floor as I rest my body on the door.

“You’re asleep.”, her sweet voice said to me as I felt her arms wrap around my body lifting me up from the cold floor and placing me on my soft bed.

“Why don’t we leave?”, I voice out, my eyes still shut.

“Cause we don’t leave family.”, mum stated as I opened my eyes to stare at her beautiful face. Her side cheek was a little red from the slap father had given her and her face were filled with bruises.

“That’s bullshit! Family shouldn’t hurt each other.”, I snapped.

“Language.”, mum cautioned as I rolled my eyes at her.

She caressed my cheek with her hand, it was one of the best feelings and my eyes began to close on its own accord.

“Are you done with your assignment?”, she asked but I didn’t reply as I felt her weight being lifted off the bed.

I heard her sigh, she had probably found my assignment note and that’s the least of my problems.

I opened my eyes to look at her beautiful face again as I drift to sleep, I felt her lips on my forehead. I heard her footsteps towards my door and the door made a creak sound indicating her departure.

And that was my ten years old self.