• I walk into the school laughing and smiling
    But no one knows the truth
    I'm in 5th grade, the schools Golden girl
    I'm student council president, 4.0 student, and 1st girl on the football team
    The girl everyone gets along with
    I have the perfect life
    That's what they say to me
    I just laugh and nod my head in agreement
    Knowing they don't hear what I do, see what I do
    I drown myself in school
    I can't go home, won't go home
    I add martial arts to my flowing list of after school activities
    I won't be intimidated forever
    But even as I sign up for more things
    I know I'm only delaying the inevitable
    I say goodbye to all my friends and hop in the van
    The ball of fear in my chest swells and is dappled with dread
    I go home eat my, dinner, hop in the shower, then hurry to bed
    I wrap myself in the blankets, felt my sister scoot close for comfort,
    then press the pillow to my head, and lay and waited
    Tonights a good night, I actually dozed off for a few minutes
    And then it started
    Their voices grow louder
    I felt my little sister shudder, so I pull her closer
    She layed her head on my shoulder, that's when I hear it
    The first smack of a fist against bare skin, followed by whimpers
    Then it gets escalated
    The whimpers turn into screams
    As he hits her and yells and screams
    I squeeze my eyes colsed, and start to drift away
    But I'm brought back by a small pinch from my little sister
    She cries silent and gentle
    I hold hold her tighter and sing sweet and low in her ear
    The screams grow louder and glass shatters
    She says please, stop, you'll wake the kids
    But he doesn't care and runs upstairs
    I know what's going to happen, but pray that it won't
    He comes back down, I can almost see it happening
    He cocks the gun then she's on her knees
    Saying no, wait, please
    He shoves the gun in her mouth
    He yells and screams, and all she can do is cry
    The gun goes off and she screams
    As the bullet hits the wall right beside her head
    Then he pistol whips her, and proceeds to kick her
    She curls into a ball to protect her head
    His steel toed boots rip through her like a finger through a spider web
    Suddenly it stops, it seems he's satisfied for tonight
    He gives her one last kick, grabs his gun and stalks off
    A door slams and I hear him stomping up the stairs
    I wait awhile then silently slip out of bed
    My sister grabs at me but I push her away
    I take my cover, grab a towel and wet it a little
    Then creep into the livingroom and see her in a heap on the couch
    I go up to her and hesitantly wipe away some of the blood
    She doesn't stir so I continue with what little first aide I know
    I bandage her and clean her up as best I can
    I put my cover over her and she begins to wake and lets out a scared moan
    I shush her gently and pat her back 'till once again she's sleeping
    I gently brush the hair from her face
    And softly kiss her on the head
    Then make sure she's tightly tucked in
    Before whispering "g'night mom," and making my way back to bed
    As usual my sister waited up for me
    Before she gets out her question I tell her she's fine
    I climb into bed and once again she snuggles up close
    And I sing her soflty to sleep
    An hour later I'm awakened for school
    Time to start another day in my perfect life