The girl who cried for help

"You son of a bitch!" My father shouted.

His palm went into my cheeks and that sent me a headache right away. I sat down in extreme weakness. He's been beating me for a few minutes now, so it's no wonder I feel this way now.

Depressed, I fell to the floor and I immediately felt the blood flow in my nose. It is my seventeenth birthday today. He was so mad at me because I told him I was going to the city to buy a book or porcelain as a gift for myself, but he just got angry.

It's my fault too. I insisted, even though I knew it was forbidden.

”What did I fucking tell you, Emma? You are not allowed to go out! The authorities might see you! ”

I gasped for breath, trying to stay upright, but I was too weak to do that.

"S-sorry papa, I just want to buy a book for— Ahh!"

I screamed in pain when he grabbed my hair to make me face him. Tears welled up in my eyes as I looked at his face. He always says that I look like him, that if it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t have inherited the face that I have today that earns me a living.

His hair is black, and messy; his mustache is thick, as well as his eyebrows. He smells like cigarettes as always, and his lips are almost violet because of chain smoking. He says I look like him, but that’s not what I want to believe.

My eyes are bulging and my eyes are not; his eyes are more like dangerous and evil. His face shape is elongated while mine is small and v-shaped. If his hair is black, mine is brown. That’s why I always wanted to believe that I looked more like my mother. But without having any memory of her, I could do nothing but to just believe him.

"Fuck you!" he shouted and spitted in my face.

I closed my eyes to what he did. He released me violently, causing me to gnaw on the floor again. I felt a numbness in myself. My whole life has been like this. I’m so used to it that the word hurt is such a typical word for me now.

In the small house where we lived, this was what I served as a jail. My dad would often sell me into some old man or any age. Some guys will do me in this house and some will have the guts to take me somewhere else. Sometimes, I prefer it if they take me outside, because somehow I get a chance to see the outside world. Unlike here at home, I can only see four corners of the walls.

“You’re not gonna listen to me, Emma? Then go! Go out there and as soon as the authorities find you, you’ll be dead! ” my father shouted again.

My body was shaking, but that was contrary to how I felt inside. I felt empty, I felt numb.

I nodded slowly as my messy hair covered my face. I saw him puff the cigarette for the last time and threw it at me afterward. My leg burned and I immediately avoided it.

"Fucking whore!" His last statement before he got out of the door.

I didn't know where he was going. With no expression, I stood up. I helped myself to my feet to get in front of the mirror. Can’t even manage to walk properly, but I did it anyway.

In front of the mirror I stared at myself. My nose is bleeding and I have a bruise on the side of my lip. I reached for the end of my dress and tore a piece of it. I then wiped the blood from my nose mixed with his spit. I fixed my hair and tucked the strand of my hair behind my ears, and then I smiled after.

I could not go out because my father kept saying that some authorities are looking for us. He told me that he and my mother had done something wrong before, they were accused of killing a rich man here in the country, so the authorities are still after them.

That is also the reason why him and mother separated. He told me that I don’t have a choice but to stick with him because he would be the way for me to see my mother. He also told me that he had to sell me to a certain man so that we could save up and be with my mother.

I smiled even more in the mirror. Just the thought of us being whole again makes my heart thump. I really should just follow my father’s order because he knows what’s right for us.

I hissed when I felt a stung on my legs. Fortunately, my thigh did not burn much. I went to the sink to get some water and wet it to relieve even a little of the pain. I sighed and looked at the book on the side of my bed.

Sometimes he buys me a book and other supplies, and I notice that those times are when I get a lot of customers. He is in a good mood and he is happy, so he buys me books, accessories and clothes.

But today is a different day. I tried to ask for his permission, but he wouldn’t allow that. I haven't had a customer for a few weeks, so maybe he's mad. I guess he doesn't even know it's my birthday today.

I fell asleep for a while in my bed due to body aches and fatigue. I just woke up when I felt someone caressing my thigh. I was startled and almost cried, but quickly someone covered my mouth. It was dark all around and quiet. The first thing that popped into my eyes were the eyes of a man I didn’t know.

I couldn’t even breathe properly as his hands roamed on my body. I didn’t know who he was. All I knew was that my chest was throbbing fast.

"Hmmp!"

"You're mine for hours little girl." A hoarse voice of the man uttered in my ears.

It sent shivers to my body. I struggled, but the man was very strong.

"Help!" I uttered with a muffled voice, because his palm is covering my mouth, and I don’t even know this man.

"Shhh!" he hushed me.

His other hand tore my dress, revealing my undergarments. I was shocked by what he did. I don’t know what’s happening.

”Help! Don’t— ”

The door opened, and with a blurry sight I saw my dad standing on the door.

“What the fuck? Can you shut that child’s mouth? The neighbors might hear! ” he hissed while puffing his cigarette.

I weakened when I realized what was going on.

Oh, this is one of his clients. I was stunned and did not try to fight back. The man who’s above me stood up and came to my father. He snatched the cigarette from him.

“Alright, right. Go now, Alberto. ” The stranger said. I was numb looking at them.

The guy then shut the door again and turned into me. His eyes are gleaming with evilness while puffing the cigarette he snatched from my father. I was so willing to give in, but then he strangled my arms and pressed the cigarette into my skin. I screamed and cried because of the pain.

I felt the burning pain in my arms, but he just tried to kiss me after. I cried and cried for help hoping my dad would hear me. I was too weak to even fight back.

The man tore my dress, revealing my chest, and that’s when I realized that I couldn't do anything anymore.