Can’t Be Seen Like This

Mila's POV

“Where the hell have you been?” I’m shoved back against the door before I’m able to close it all the way, knocking the wind out of me.

When I went home after work, I snuck in through my window so I didn’t have to face my stepmom when I was already feeling off by what happened the last couple of days. I wanted a good night of sleep so that today wouldn’t feel so hard. Of course, that means she thinks I’ve been gone this whole time. I should have known she would be furious, but I couldn’t hide from her forever.

I have to suck in a few weak pulls of air to try and catch my breath before I can give her an excuse. She didn’t let me. This time she was beyond her normal level of mad. This time, she slapped me across the face the second I opened my mouth. I cried out and fell to the floor. My hand comes up to cover the part of my face where she struck me, and I look up at her with genuine fear. It’s been a while since she hit me in the face or anywhere visible, but today she did. I