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PART I

A BROKEN HOME

Chapter One

CANE

Past

I’m not afraid I’m not afraid Fuck him, I’m not afraid!

Those words chi in my chest

A crackle of thunder ru the dark corners of ht in the hallas on and the floor creaked I sed the bile in my throat

I prayed it was Ma down the hall, but by the sound of the heavy footsteps and the deep breathing, I kneasn’t her I took a step back and hit the wall, wishing I could blend in with it, or even pass through it like a ghost A ghostI wanted to be was alive

The doorknob jiggled My breathing became shallow

I was glad I’d hidden Lorelei I heard his truck pull up and hid her in the attic I told her to try and stay up there until I caht I was brave, but if she could have seen ht otherwise

I thought about hiding too, or at least running away, but kneould have torn the house to shreds just to find us He needed soer out on If it wasn’t Mom, it was us

I hated when he hurt them, so I always made sure to be around Every tier I was so tired of dealing with his shit

I was fourteen now I’d developed a littlein coh to take him down

My bedroo into the wall, and his silhouette was all I could make out

Broad shoulders