Chapter One

Georgia's POV

I hide in our room every time I hear my father's footsteps entering the house. Hearing his voice sends shivers down my spine. Today's no exception. He knocked on the door of our room as usual and called my name, "Georgia, I'm back."

Allan and Elenna, my younger siblings, are also scared of him. I told them to hide under the blanket, cover their ears, and not go out until I said so. They are both too young to see the things my father is doing to me.

Slowly, although I'm scared, I opened the door, because if I don't, he'd force his way in and beat all of us. This way, I can save my siblings from the beatings. My father suddenly grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the room. He's so strong that he could take me out in just a second.

"Why are you not responding to me?" he asked, his voice so loud that even the neighborhood could hear him. "Are you going to fight back now?" He tweaked my hair up.

Tears were about to come out of my eyes, but I held them back despite the pain coming from my head. My father grabbed my throat, suffocating me. Each day that passes by, I'm getting used to his cruelty. If only my mother were here, she wouldn't hesitate to defend me from him, but she's already gone; those thieves killed her.

They were the real animals. My father's a real animal as well. He's a swine. He always molested me even when I refused. He threatened me. He would beat me up if I wouldn't do as he said.

"I... I'm not, Father," I mumbled.

"Good." He let go of me and sat down on the couch, leaning on his back with his legs crossed. "Now, take off your clothes," he ordered.

"Dad... please..." I begged him to stop.

"I said, take off your clothes!" His voice grew louder and more authoritative. "Or do you want me to take them off for you?"

He stood up from the couch and stepped toward me. He touched my face with his rough hands. I can smell the alcohol in his breath. His hands went on my shoulders, and slowly, he pulled down my sleeveless shirt.

Tears voluntarily came out from my eyes when my father took down my pants.

"It's okay, darling, I will be gentle," he whispered. He wiped the tears from my face with his finger, and suddenly, he carried me inside his room and locked the door.

This didn't happen once or twice. It happened countless times, especially when my father got drunk. He raped me. I am helpless under his big arms. I can't move under him. How I wish I could just disappear like smoke so that he won't see me again.

Sometimes I even think of killing myself. But the thought that my younger siblings needed me prevented me from doing that. Allan and Elenna are both too young, and my father will abuse and hurt them once I'm gone. My mother won't be happy if I leave them to my heartless father.

My father fell asleep after raping me. The middle of my thighs hurts like hell. There's blood on the bedsheets. At first, it was unbearable, but as time passed by, I had gotten used to it. I slowly left his bed and went inside our room. I told my siblings that it's okay; they can go out now.

The next day, my father just acted as usual. He usually wakes up late and would rush to go to work. He works as a laborer. He doesn't always eat with us and chooses to eat with his friends instead. He spends all his money on his vices: gambling, alcohol, and cigarettes. He doesn't give us anything, which means I have to earn enough to feed my siblings.

I'm just 18 years old, but I'm working in my aunt Nelly's, my father's sister's, bakery store since nobody would employ an uneducated girl like me. I have stopped studying since my mother died. I didn't have enough money and time to go to school. No one would take care of my younger siblings.

Allan is just six years old, and Elenna is five. They couldn't be left alone to themselves, so I often bring them with me when I go to the bakery. I don't know when I'll be free from all these burdens. Sometimes I'd just suddenly cry out of nowhere. I wonder why life is so unfair. I wonder why this has to happen to me. I don't know why my mother has to go away and why Dad has to be this way.

I wish I was born different. I wish I came from a wealthy family where I could do things a normal eighteen-year-old girl does. It kills me every time I see a normal family doing things together. I'm jealous of them. I'm jealous seeing their smiles.

"Georgia!" Aunt Nelly called my name. "Can you watch the bakery for a while? There's something I need to buy at the store."

"Yes, Auntie," I replied.

Aunt Nelly left the bakery to me. It's still early, so there are only a few customers. After a while, Aunt Nelly came back with two brown packs of flour. She put them on the table and checked the drawer where she kept the money. She looked at me, and without saying anything, she grabbed my hair.

"You thief!" She exclaimed, pointing her finger at me. "The money's gone. You took it, right? Where did you hide it?"

"Auntie, please, I don't know what you're talking about," I said, begging her to believe me.

"Don't fool me, Georgia. You're the only one left here. No one else can take the money except for you. I already allowed you to work here, and yet, didn't I give you enough that you'll have to steal from me?" Aunt Nelly asked, her grip on my curly, auburn hair tightening.

"Auntie, I swear, I didn't take anything." Tears came out from my eyes out of nowhere. "Please believe me, please..." I begged.

"You better give them back to me if you don't want to be put in jail! Your siblings will do what you're doing if I don't discipline you. I wonder how your mother raised you, Georgia," Aunt Nelly said.

Aunt Nelly was about to drag me to the police station when her husband arrived in a fancy, red car and stopped her. Uncle Kenneth told Aunt Nelly that it was he who took the money and she shouldn't blame me for it.

I felt relieved after hearing that. Uncle Kenneth saved me from getting jailed despite. I really didn't want to steal anything. I just want to buy something for my siblings. I didn't do it for myself. I did it for them. They'd die from hunger if I didn't. I had to do something to get them food, and stealing was the easiest way to do that.

Uncle Kenneth gave his own money in exchange for the money I took. Aunt Nelly has finally calmed down. She apologized for accusing me. I felt guilty because she was actually right.

Uncle Kenneth talked to me privately. He said, "I know what you did, Georgia. You may have some reason why you did that, but that doesn't mean that stealing isn't wrong. I'm not mad at you. You're a smart girl, so don't let money make you dumb. I'm giving you the chance to turn them back."

"I'm so sorry, Uncle," I apologized, tears falling down my eyes. "I didn't mean to steal. I really didn't. Please forgive me. Please don't tell Aunt Nelly about this. She won't allow me to work for her if she knows."

"Don't worry, Georgia. Just trust me," he said.

I returned the money to Uncle Kenneth. Perhaps I was so blinded by our needs that I forgot what my mother always told me. Stealing is wrong no matter what the reason for doing it.