Celeste

Then she started kicking me. My stomach, my ribs, and my back.

I curled up, trying to protect myself, sobbing uncontrollably.

“I’ll do better tomorrow, I promise!” I cried. The pain was unbearable. If she didn’t stop, she might kill me. “I promise you, Mother! Please!”

She finally stopped and bent down. She pushed my hair away from my face and whispered coldly, “You better try harder tomorrow. Or else I’ll make you suffer even more.”

With that, she left my room, ...