Chapter 21.

It's 4:15pm on Tuesday and I've just got home from school. Yet another day of you guessed it- coursework. It's seriously boring now.

Mum and Jason are both at work plus Leela and Archie are at our nans, so I'm home alone.

I'm not fussed really.

I jog upstairs and change out of my jeans and into a pair of loose joggers. I tie my hair up in a messy bun before heading back downstairs.

I enter the living room when there is a knock at the door. I furrow my eyebrows and head into the hallways to answer it.

"Hello Sophia."

"What the hell do you want?!" I question, staring at the figure before me.

"I've just come to see you, you weren't here when I called around yesterday." My dad states.

"What a shame." I say bluntly. "Look I don't know what mum told you yesterday, but I'm quite happy without you in my life- I don't ever want a repeat of what you did years ago."

I will tell you the events...

So it was one day after school, I was roughly 10 years old. I can't quite remember. Anyways, I was up in my room when I heard lots of shouting. I silently waited at the top of the bannister to try and see what was going on.

That's when I saw my dad hit my mum in the face. I was young- but not young enough to realise what was going on.

I screamed at him. He didn't seem to like it. So he ran up the stairs at me- grabbing my by the arm and shoved me into my bedroom. It wasn't much- but it scared the life out of me.

Then more shouting happened downstairs. Broken plates, glasses, you name it.

It then went quiet- and I crept downstairs, even though I was scared sh*tless.

Dad had gone- and mum was hurt...

It wasn't the first time.

"Now, don't be like that Sophia." He says taking a step closer.

"Take one more step and I'm going to call someone." I say firmly. "I don't want you in this house."

"I'm your dad, you can't stop me." He states, a vile look plastered across his smug face.

"Trust me, I will." I retaliate.

He places his grubby hand on mine. I snatch it was as quick as possible. A confused look on his face.

"Your no dad to me, or to Archie. You lost that title when you abused mum. Now take any more steps into this house and I will-"

My speech was cut off, the door flung open and my dad stepped into the house, grabbing my arm in the process. His grip tightening around my tiny arm. I kick and scream, but his pins me against the wall.I force myself out of his grip- but how can I fight back against a 16 stone man.

A red mist descends over his face and my dad flips; trying to drag me here and there, slamming his hand against things- you name it.

He's vile. No dad of mine.

All of a sudden it all stops, goes quiet. I'm sat alone in the hallway. Dad's gone.

The past 20 minutes is a total blur.

"Miss, my name is constable Smith. Am I right in saying that that man is your father?"

I nod in response.

I bring my knees to my chest and hug them tightly. I know tears are in my eyes as my vision is blurry, but they do not fall. I won't allow them to fall. I will not allow that man to bring our family down again.

"Would you like to press charges?" The young officer questions.

Do I?

"Can I come back to the station if I change my mind?" I say quietly.

"Yes, if you would like to consult with your family first, that's is completely fine." He smiles.

"I think I will do that." I say standing up and straightening out my clothing.

"Your very brave to stand up to a man like that." He states.

"Thanks." I say forcing a small smile.

The police leave with dad and close the door behind them. I stay seated on the floor, no energy to move.

My head throbs, I feel like he's ripped out half my hair.

"Sophia!" My mum says bursting through the door. "Was it him? It was him wasn't it! Oh, why can't he just leave us alone?!" She shouts.

"Mum, please don't shout- my head hurts." I say holding my pounding head.

"He, he, touched you." She manages to stutter.

"Yes." I say bluntly.

My mums eyes are drawn from my head to the dark red handprints on my arms.

"We are going to the station. Now!" She says firmly.

I drag myself off the floor and stuff my feet into my uggs. I follow my mum out to the car, my phone vibrating in my pocket.

Perri.

I let the call ring out, I'll call him back later.

I rest my sore head on the back off the seat, tears stinging my eyes. I will not cry.

I will not cry.

I cried.

I sat there and crumbled. Something I refused to let him do. But he won- I cried.

We arrive at the station and I shuffle inside. We head to the help desk, that's when I spot him- his smug face.

"Why is he not locked up?!" I say raising my voice.

"Um, miss, there are no statements against him, we can't legally lock him up yet." The officer explains.

"Well my daughter is here to place a statement." My mum says.

We spend about an hour in the station. They have to take photos of all the marks and cuts, and then I have to give my statement.

"I'm proud of you." My mum says kissing my forehead, when we arrive home.

"Yeah." I simply reply.

I trudge upstairs and pull my MacBook out of my school bag. I text Perri if he can FaceTime and he replies saying he can.

"Hey!" He says, his cheery face showing up on my screen. "What's wrong?"

I shake my head, biting my lip, trying to stop the tears.

"You know, when he left the first time, I thought that my life was falling apart. But then he came back, and my life was fixed." I begin.

"Sophia?" Perri says looking abit worried.

"Then after many attempts to get rid of him after he hit us, he finally left. And yes it was hard- but it was better and safer for all of us." I continue between sobs.

"Please tell me, what's happened?" He says looking really worried now.

"He came back Perri." I say.

"Who, who came back?" He urges.

"My dad." I say bluntly. "He came back, when I was home alone. He didn't like the fact I didn't want him in the house..."

"He didn't... Did he?" Perri says quietly.

I just nod. I adjust my body so I can show him the marks. Perri's face drops, and that look he have me right there made my break down.

God I wish he was here right now.

************

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