The last morsel to have touched my lips was the chicken nuggets they served at school on Friday. My stomach rumbled in anticipation at whatever they had planned for breakfast the following day. I was so hungry at that point, I could have eaten slop. Louie, my mom’s newest live-in, was talking to a group of guys. Damn Louie, can you be any louder. I covered my ears and hummed to drown out the moans and screams as mom performed her weekly ritual; entertaining a long line of men, in order to obtain hers and the ass’s drugs. I was used to it by then, and they mostly left me alone. That was why I bounced straight up in one frantic motion when I saw the light from the door being flung open. I was disoriented as to where I was until Ethan’s arms tightened around me. His skin steamed under my touch. I was unsure if I was even awake and was unwilling to move. “Privy, what’s wrong?” I shook my head. The nightmares had vanished for a while, but were returning with a vengeance.
