“Aurora, wake up!” my mother shouted in my room.

“It's still five in the morning, it's not my time to leave.” I said, startled, looking at the time on my phone.

“You're not going out today. Alice has a fever, you'll stay with her, because Sandro alone can't handle her when she's sick.”

“But I was supposed to meet Isa today.”

“You can meet her next week. Alice is more important.” She said it as if what I had said didn't matter.

“Mom, it's just that—”

“Listen here.” She came at me, grabbing my neck. “You're going to stay with your sister and you're not leaving her room for anything, understood?”

“I understand,” I whispered, barely able to speak from the lack of air in my lungs, as her hands tightened around my neck.

“I don't want you and Sandro talking about anything that isn't Alice. No funny business, girl!”

“It seems like you like him more than me.”

“This is not the time for arguments or drama. Go to her room and lie down next to her bed.”

“You want me to lie on the floor?” I knew my mother didn't like me anymore and mistreated me whenever she could, but every time she said something like that, I was still shocked by the coldness in her voice.

“If you don't want to sleep, go iron her clothes from yesterday. Don't forget to separate them by color when you put them away, otherwise it will be hard to find them later.”

She left the room without waiting for an answer. I got up and got dressed, properly covered. No shorts or anything that showed my body, and I went to my little sister's room. Alice was two years old, a sweet little girl, of course, because I raised her that way. We always got along well, I loved her very much. Since she was born, I was the one who took care of her. I gave her her first bath and went with her to her monthly doctor appointments.

My mother and Sandro loved her too, more than anything in the world. They would give their lives for her if needed. The care they don't have for me, they have more than enough for her, which somehow relieved me, because when I leave, I'll know she'll be well taken care of.

I went into Alice's room and she was covered, sleeping, but her face showed pain. I immediately checked her temperature, gave her medicine, and lay down beside her. I knew my mother wouldn't come back into the room before seven, the time she would get up to get ready for work.

Morning came. My mother had already left for work. Sandro came to check on Alice twice during the morning.

Now it was one thirty in the afternoon, and I still hadn't eaten. Alice seemed better, the fever was gone and she was eating everything I gave her. She had just fallen asleep, so I went to the kitchen to eat something, because I was starving. Sandro was standing by the sink, drinking water.

“Where's Alice?” he asked in a harsh tone.

“She just fell asleep, the fever is gone.” I answered without looking at him.

I started serving my plate and remembered Isa. Maybe now that Alice was better, I could go out and say goodbye to her. In my innocence, I asked my stepfather for permission.

“Sandro.” He looked at me. “Since Alice is better, can I go out for a bit? I had something planned today.”

“Something planned? What something?” he asked rudely.

“I have to see a friend.”

“A friend? Hmm, I know. You're going after some man!” His words caught me off guard.

“Respect me. I didn't give you the right to talk to me like that or offend me.” I replied, outraged.

“Since when do I have to respect someone like you? This house is mine, I say whatever I want. Do you think I'll let you stay here if you show up pregnant? I'll throw you out, you hear me?”

He had the worst opinion of me, and I had never given him any reason. I had always been a quiet person, never went out or gave my mother any reason to worry about anything.

“Respect me!” I shouted.

He came at me and grabbed my neck. I was holding a bowl of hot soup.

“Why should I respect you? Do you think I can't recognize a slut from afar? You're not going anywhere, and if you're that desperate to see a man, I'll show you a real one, right here at home.”

As he said that, he squeezed my breast, trying to pull my shirt off. At that moment, I didn't think twice. I threw the bowl of hot soup in his face with all the strength and anger I had.

Right away, he fell to the floor and started groaning in pain. I panicked, ran to my room, grabbed my bag, and ran out through the gate. He was splashing water on his face at the sink, screaming in pain. It looked like he had burned himself badly.

Serves him right!

I ran to the end of the street when a taxi passed by, and I waved it down, asking him to take me to the bus station.

When I got there, I started thinking about the situation I had just gotten myself into, for burning that bastard's face. My mother wouldn't believe me if I told the truth, and I couldn't go back home, because he would kill me.

I only had the clothes on my back and my backpack, which had my bows, documents, money, and my phone. That was all that came to mind at the moment.

“It's now, Aurora. Your freedom starts here. You need to leave!”

I went to the ticket counter and asked for a ticket to the capital. The attendant asked for my documents and, when she saw I was underage, said I couldn't travel without authorization from my parents or guardians.

“Miss, I turn eighteen in two months, there won't be any problem.” I tried to explain.

“There wouldn't be if it were a nearby city. Since you're alone, I need written authorization from a guardian.”

“Please, I'm begging you, sell me this ticket. It's a matter of life or death.” I pleaded, tears in my eyes.

“Girl, if it's a matter of life or death, I suggest you go to a hospital or the police, not a bus station.”

She answered indifferently and went to do something else, ignoring me. I couldn't go to the police and say my stepfather tried to abuse me, because it would be my word against his, and I was sure my mother would side with him.

I sat there, desperate, not knowing what to do. The only way was to buy a ticket to a city in the same state. I stood up and walked toward the counter again when I heard a voice calling my name.

At that exact moment, a chill ran down my spine.