A girl sat on the rooftop looking up at the star and thought 'no matter how dark the night is the stars still shine so bright' she just sat their lost in her thoughts as she quietly cried. All though she hated her dad and his beating she still continued her day like nothing happened but deep inside, the negative thoughts and the things that happen in her daily life was slowly kiling her.

She knew very well that after her mother died her dad started to love his belt, like coming home drunk, calling her names, beating her up with a belt to the point were she fell unconscious and what not.

It was a continuous cycle of waking up early, her dad ready downstairs to hit her, going to her part-time job with her untreated bruises, cuts and scars, sleeping with an empty stomach, earning money by herself and going to school.

She was physically and mentally tired 'can I keep going with this hell of a life? I...... I just want to sleep and never wake up, is it too much to ask for? What......... Just, what did I do to deserve this? Is this my fault to be born? For him to be my father? I never asked for this, right?'

She let out a quite sigh, eventually wiped her tears and got up, made her way down the rooftop, as soon as she descended from the stairs she heard her phone ringing.

Her heart dropped, her breathing started to become shallow, thinking it was her dad calling to ask where she is, all you could hear was the sound of her heart beating rapidly, the wind making the trees rustle and the cars honking, praying silently that it wasn't her dad, she slowly but carefully looked at the caller ID soon a relief swept across her face, it was her best friend Katie.

Mia quickly answered the call thinking it was an emergency.

...................

Katie: 'Miaaaaaa where are you?, do you know how long I've been waiting for you to come to your night shift? OH MY GOD WAIT MY DEAR DID SOMETHING HAPPEN TO YOU???

Mia:' calm down Katie nothing happened I..... I just.....don't feel well, so I asked my boss for 2 day leave but other than that I'm fine'

Katie: 'babyyyy are you sure? Will I come over? Did you go to a doctor?

Mia:' katieeeeee don't worry I'm fine, I'll call you if anything happens, okay?

Katie: 'okay okay, if your alright then I'll hang now

Mia:' yeah, yeah, byeeeee Katie, love you!!!

Katie: 'byeeeee Mia love you more!!!

..............

After the call, Mia went off to go to her house knowing that her dad was probably waiting for her to come and beat her up until she was unconscious.

Before going home she stopped by at the convenient store spending her last bit of money to get something to eat "how long has it been since I ate, was it one day or two days", mumbling to herself while buying a small bottle of banana milk and some small bread.

' He might be drunk and went bed, right?' she thought.

But little did she know she was all wrong.

Mia tightened her grip on the paper bag holding the banana milk and bread as she trudged toward her house. The streetlights flickered, casting shadows that danced around her. Her footsteps echoed faintly in the stillness of the night. She felt a pang of unease, her instincts screaming at her to turn back, but she pushed forward. She had nowhere else to go.

The house came into view, the dark silhouette of the run down building looming over her. The porch light was off, and the curtains were drawn, as always. Mia paused at the gate, her stomach knotting with dread.

'Maybe he really is asleep,' she whispered to herself, trying to muster up her courage. The small comfort of her small meal gave her just enough strength to push the creaky gate open and step inside.

The living room was dimly lit, the air heavy with the stench of stale beer and cigarette smoke. Empty bottles scattered across the floor. She held her breath as she tiptoed inside, careful not to make a sound. Her eyes darted to the sofa, where her father usually passed out after drinking, but it was empty.

Her heart pounded. 'Where is he?' she thought, panic setting in.

Suddenly, a low, raspy voice cut through the silence. "You think you can sneak in here like a little thief, huh?"

Mia froze, the bag slipping from her hands and hitting the floor with a soft thud. She turned her head slowly, her eyes meeting the menacing figure of her father standing in the doorway to the kitchen. His face was flushed, his eyes bloodshot, and a half-empty bottle dangled from his hand.

"Dad, I—" she began, but he silenced her with a glare.

"Don't call me dad," he growled, taking a step toward her. "Where have you been? Who were you with?"

"I-I was just with Katie," Mia lied hesitantly as she backed away. "We were studying, that's all."

"Studying?" he sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You think I'm stupid? You think I don't know what you've been up to?"

Before she could respond, he lunged at her, grabbing her arm with a bruising grip. She winced but didn't cry out. She had learned long ago that showing weakness only made things worse.

"You think you can just come and go as you please?" he spat, shaking her. "You're nothing without me, you hear me? Nothing!"

Mia clenched her jaw, tears stinging her eyes as she tried to pull away. "Please, Dad, I just—"

His slap came fast and hard, sending her sprawling to the floor. The taste of blood filled her mouth as she struggled to sit up, her vision swimming.

Mia pressed her trembling hands against the cold floor, forcing herself upright despite the dizziness. Her father towered over her, his shadow engulfing her like a dark storm cloud.

"You're pathetic," he spat, his voice filled with venom. "Just like your mother. Always weak. Always running away from responsibility."

The next thing I could hear was dad taking off his belt ready to hit me, while I was thrown on the ground ready to accept on what was gonna happen.

“Please, Dad, I won’t do it again!” she cries, backing into the corner. But her dad, John, doesn’t stop. He raises the belt and strikes her across the legs, then her back as she curls into a ball, trying to shield herself. Her sobs echo in the room, but John was too blinded by his anger to stop until her cries become gasps for air.

When John finally drops the belt, after what felt like hours Mia lies trembling on the floor. Her legs and back were red with blood gushing out, and a thin line of broken skin on her arm bleeds lightly where the belt’s edge had caught her. She feels a searing pain in her back every time she moves. John leaves the room with a bottle of alcohol without a word, muttering under his breath “such a slut, might as well earn some money with her body.”

That night, Mia lies awake in her bed, unable to find a comfortable position because of the stinging cuts. She bites her lip to stop herself from crying too loudly, terrified her father might hear. Mia woke up regained consciousness to excruciating torment, her body crusted with dried blood, each movement sending waves of pain through her.

She wore a long sleeves hoodie and loose baggy jeans to her morning job at the café the next day, the first thing she could hear was Katie shouting a hello.

 Katie's frozed on the spot, looking at Mia's face "Miaaa, my baby, are you okay?", Looking worried as Mia was limping, and her face looked very pale "what happened to you?, why are you so pale? Did something happen?",

"I'm all right Katie, I just couldn't sleep and wasn't able to eat my breakfast this morning, so don't worry I'm alright",

Katie slightly yelled while lightly holding onto Mia's face "DON'T WORRY???? Mia listen to me, okay?, you look realllllly pale, and because you didn't eat or sleep this morning, it doesn't mean you'll look THIS pale!!!",

"Katieeee your being overly dramatic I-

"OVERLY DRAMATIC???" Katie let out a huge sigh. "OK, first eat, 'cause your shift has already started, and you look like you might pass out any second."

Katie gave a plate of a sandwich and a drink across the table towards Mia, who slumped onto the seat with a groan.

"I'm fine," Mia muttered, rubbing her temples. "I just—"

"didn't eat breakfast, barely slept, and now you're drained?" Katie finished for them, crossing her arms. "Yeah, I can see that."

Mia grabbed the sandwich. "Not my fault I look this pale."

Katie sighed again, softer this time. "Look, I get it. But if you collapse in the middle of your morning part-time job, guess who has to deal with that mess?"

Mia sighed. "You?"

"Exactly," Katie shot back. "So eat. And if you even think about skipping the morning shift, I will tell Mr. James you're sick, and he'll send you home."

Mia groaned, but picked up the sandwich. "Fine. But if I die from exhaustion, I'm going to haunt you ."

"whatever," Katie said, shaking her head with a small smile.