I was gone for about fifteen minutes before I came back up the steps. I walked in the door and the scent of alcohol stung my nose.
The screen door slammed shut behind me closing inside the house with my drunken father.

I looked to my right past the open door to see the back of my daddy's head laying against the recliner he sat on. The table beside him was covered in empty beer bottles along with a shot glass and two bottles of whiskey; one half gone.

I turned around and headed through the kitchen, to my room. I closed myself in and slowly sank into my twin sized bed. Peace rushed through my body and I began to weep. I cursed God for putting me through all I'd been through, but at the end of the day, I still felt the same. I guess I could learn from him and love rather than curse but I didn't know how to love. I had never loved or been loved after momma died.

The sun was finally going down, as were the thoughts running through my mind. I heard footsteps come down the hall and stop in front of my door. The knob turned and daddy swung it open.
"Where were you?" He yelled through his yellowed teeth.
"At the bottom of the hill picking dandelions." I yelled, holding back tears.
"No ma'am you weren't!" He said while he stepped towards me and grabbed my hair.
"STOP!" I yelled with a crackling voice, tears now streaming down my face.
"You are gonna be punished for leaving without my permission!" He said as his fist made contact with the left side of my face.