Chapter 1: The Night It Happened

Karen’s voice echoed through the living room as she grabbed Lily by the arm and dragged the ten-year-old girl toward the front door.

“Mom, please! I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to break the vase!” Lily cried.

Karen yanked the door open. Cold wind and heavy rain rushed inside.

“I am not your mother!” Karen shouted. “Your useless mother abandoned you, and now I’m stuck raising someone else’s brat!”

She raised her hand and slapped Lily hard across the face. Lily fell to the floor, clutching her burning cheek.

Karen grabbed Lily’s backpack and threw it outside into the rain, then kicked the girl’s small body toward the door.

“Get out! I don’t want to see your face anymore!”

Lily looked up at her father, who was sitting on the couch the entire time. Mark didn’t even stand up. He just stared at the floor.

“Dad…” Lily’s voice was small and broken. “Dad, please…”

Mark finally spoke, but his voice was quiet and tired.

“Karen… that’s enough. She’s just a kid.”

Karen turned to him sharply.

“If you have something to say, then deal with her yourself! But if you’re not going to do anything, then shut up and let me handle it!”

Mark looked at Lily for a brief second. There was guilt in his eyes, but it wasn’t strong enough for him to move. He stayed seated.

Karen grabbed Lily by the back of her shirt and shoved her out the door. Lily fell onto the wet ground as the rain poured down on her.

“And don’t come back!” Karen screamed before slamming the door shut.

Lily sat on the wet ground for a long time, crying. Her cheek was burning, and her clothes were already soaked. She slowly picked up her backpack and stood up on shaky legs.

She had nowhere to go.

Her father had married Karen two years ago, and ever since then, her life had become a nightmare. Karen hit her when no one was looking and made her do all the housework. But the worst part was that her father never protected her. He always looked away. He always stayed silent.

Now, at ten years old, Lily was walking alone in the heavy rain with no idea where to go.

She walked for nearly an hour. Her small body was freezing. Eventually, she found a small covered bus stop and crawled underneath it, curling up into a ball. She was shaking badly.