Light streams in through the window , settling around me like a protective halo . My eyes slowly flutter open and I groan , squeezing them shut tightly . The sunlight is too bright for my sensitive vision . My eyes are stinging and I can barely keep them open for any longer than a few seconds . I murmur weakly , my voice croaky and low . I listen out carefully for any noise , my body shaking in fear . Silence surrounds me , feeling of loneliness hitting me like a ton of bricks . the I'm lying on the bathroom floor , my head resting against the tiles in an uncomfortable position . My entire body aches and burns from any slight movement . My eyes fill with tears as reality hits me . I'm forced to continue living this nightmare . I inhale deeply before gripping tightly onto the toilet seat as I attempt to lift myself up . My legs wobble underneath me unsteadily and my arms begin to shake vigorously from the strain . All I want to do right now is sleep . My body is screaming at me to give in and rest from weeks , years of being mistreated . I shuffle over and lower myself carefully in the shower , sitting cross legged on the shower floor . The second the warm water washes over my body , I feel my shoulders slump in relief . I spent the next half hour in the shower , feeling completely numb to the world . I feel disorientated from my exhaustion and the heat from the shower . My body sways as I crawl to my bed , opening up my nightstand drawer and taking two sleeping tablets . I dress into clean pyjamas and bury myself deep inside my bed surrounded by blankets . The clock on my bedside table reads 10am . The thought of attending school makes me nauseous , my stomach churning . I pull the duvet around me and snuggle in , breathing in the familiar scent . Barely a minute passes before my body finally gives in and I fall into a deep much needed sleep . 44444 I wake up to the sound of my phone going off , over and over again . I groan and reach out for it on my bedside table but it's not in its usual place . I sigh and slowly sit up , my body screaming in pain . It's dark outside and my clock reads 11pm . I slept through the whole day . ' Wow , that's a new record for me . " I mutter . I crawl onto the floor towards my phone which is by my door . The screen is brightly lit up , alerting me that I have several missed calls and numerous amount of texts . I let out a small groan as I reach over for it . My arms can barely support my weight and I feel myself grow light headed . I know I'm about to pass out if I don't rest so I shuffle back towards my bed , phone in hand , I press the home button and wince at the screen . I am so not ready to face brightness . I have ten texts from Trish , asking if I'm okay and whether I'll be coming into college . As the texts progress , Trish begins to believe I'm beginning to ignore her and don't want to be friends anymore . I let out a small laugh at how overreactive the girl can be sometimes . After texting her back and letting her know I'm fine and our friendship is fine , I scroll along to my next text message . It's from Ivory , asking whether I'm okay as I don't usually skip a day . I smile at her concern and respond to her , again letting her know that I'm fine . 1/2 9:02 Tue , Oct 14 5 .. Chapter 9 : Nothing is ever fine but I can't tell her that , I can never tell anyone . 88 I'm afraid if my secret is exposed , people will treat me differently ... Like fine china . Breakable . Fragile . That's not how I want to be known . I don't want people to whisper behind my back , whispering about my abuse . I don't want rumours being created about how Trevor did this and did that to me . The next text message is from an unknown number . My heart speeds up as my mind wonders to the night where I received the call from the person claiming to be my dead father . Since then , I've had no other calls but the thought of it still causes an uneasy feeling to settle inside my stomach . I breathe in sharply , composing myself before my eyes scan over the text - - Are you ok ? -J . I bite my lower lip as I try to figure out who's texting me . It takes me a while to realise but eventually , I get it . J is obviously Jake . Chapter Comments 13 Write Comments