Prologue
“Please Richard not again! I’ll do anything you want, just please not again!”
“Shut up you little whore before you wake up your brother! Now lay there and keep your mouth shut until I’m finished!”
‘Oh God please let him finish fast this time’ I prayed in my head as he unzipped his pants. I tensed up as he reached for my panties and took them off slowly, tears streaming down my face.
“You better not scream” he said just as he—”
“Kami! I’m scares! Pwease wake ups!” I jolt awake looking at the tear streaked face of my little brother.
“Hey little tiger what are you doing awake?” Scooping him into my arms, rocking him gently.
“Yous were crying and yelling in yours sleep. I thoughts that he came back for us” My heart breaks knowing I scared him. Knowing he’ll always have memories of that man in our life.
“I’m sorry baby, I didn’t mean to scare you. I was just having a bad dream, but I’m all better now. I promise that I won’t ever let him come near you again ok. We’re safe now. Now, let’s get you back to bed so that you can be all rested up for your first day of school tomorrow.” I lift us off my makeshift bed in the living room and carry him back to his bed in the bedroom. I may not be able to give him much but he will be able to at least say he has his own room.
I settle him in his bed and go back to turn the light off when he stops me.
“Kami?”
“Yes little tiger?”
“Will yous sleep with me tonight pwease? I promise nots to take all the blankets” Knowing that he wants me in here because of me scaring him I can’t help but agree.
“Of course baby. Scoot over then” Jamie tucks himself into my side as soon as I get settled in and I wrap my arms around him. Offering him as much protection as my small frame will allow. “Go to sleep now tiger, you have a big day tomorrow”
I look at my down at the sleeping angel in my arms. I brush his curls back, thinking of how much better he has gotten lately. He used to wake up crying every night when we first left. He was terrified our step father was going to come back for us. In a way he was right, but I would never let him know that.
Our step father is a sick man that enjoys the pain he inflicted on others. The night he went for Jamie was the night I decided it was time to leave and we did. And we have never been happier. I’ll do anything to keep a smile on this little boys face. Anything.
