Ch. 58: Calliope

Calliope’s P.O.V.

Mommy and Daddy have always told me I was a smart girl, too smart, they said. I knew they weren’t saying it to be nice. They would have liked it if I were stupid, so they could get away with more. My eyes were always watching what they were doing. I knew they were not doing good things, but they kept doing it, anyway.

‘You tell anyone about this and you’re dead, you hear me, Cali?’ Daddy would threaten me any time I saw him selling that funny white powder in a tiny baggie. I would just nod my head and keep quiet, because I learned long ago that saying anything would make Daddy hurt me.

‘She's just a little girl, Mateo. She won't say anything.’ Mommy would try to defend me, but the moment Daddy gave her a look, she would stop.

Mommy didn’t want to get hit either, so she never fought hard for me. She would rather I get hit than her. It’s okay though, because I would rather Daddy hit me over her, too. When Daddy is done hitting me, Mommy takes extra good care of m