Integrity

Chapter One. Memories

Freedom .

A seven letter word that has different meanings for all of us.

Safety

Something that I don't have and use all of my 11:11's, shooting stars, pennies in a fountain and even birthday wishes, just so I can have that.

Happiness

Something I tried to keep, but every single day seems to drown it deeper and deeper into the heaps of secrets and lies and bruises, until I break down and lost it all.

Integrity

A nine letter word that means unity, trustworthiness, fairness, honesty, and virtue; something that I have lost within the years.

Even with the everlasting pain of the bottles and the stinging pain of being beaten every day, doesn't make me loose faith.

It was only the time of loosing you, which made it worse.

~~~~~

Tick, tock. Tick tock.

Half past noon and the day was bright, but the day was quiet.

Mother was preparing dinner, hiding the marks and bruises from earlier.

Though I was only six, I could tell when my mother was off. Especially on days like this.

The door bursted open, a dark figure emerged from the lightless night, stumbling past the living room to the kitchen.

I was smart enough to hide, knowing that she didn't want me to see her never ending torture.

But I wasn't smart enough to choose a suitable hiding spot.

I dove under the table, hiding towards the middle, but just enough so I could see my mother's feet.

I heard screaming, and begging, then pleading and then roars and anger and frightening tones.

Between all of that, I could hear my name, “Maddie," being growled out by the figure.