don’t sleep.

she’d lay there trying to keep her eyes open, dreaming about the future. Trying not to fall asleep. She tried so hard but always failed. She’d wake up in a panic, feeling the soaked bedsheets beneath her. She’s get up as quietly as she could , grabbing the spare blanket under the bed that she’d put there the day before, laying it underneath her. Then she’d go to the bathroom to clean herself up. He didn’t sleep much so she had to be extra careful. She’d get herself cleaned up, opening the door to quietly return to her bed, she is interrupted by him standing in front of the open door. Light shining bright on his unimpressed face. She instantly knew what most of the night would look like. He ordered her to remove all of her clothes in front of him , then tell her to get into the shower . He would turn the water to the coldest setting and make her stand in it, laughing at her. He’d fill containers of freezing cold water from the sink and splash it onto her all while she’s crying and begging him to stop. And he just continues to laugh. This went on for however long he felt like that day.

She was 5 . He was supposed to be protecting her, instead he broke her.