Dear Mom,

comfort

dear mom,

i'm hiding in the same closet 

that i used to hide in when daddy would get really angry

and try to hurt me.

i don't know why i'm in this closet.

i guess it has some protection for me?

but this time, i'm no longer hiding from daddy.

i'm hiding from the thunderstorm. 

there's a knock coming from the front door.

i can hear it.

but, i won't move because of this terrifying fear of mine.

what if it's the thunder?

i know it's a stupid thought.

but what if it is? 

i can't even move right now.

i'm too scared.

i can hear the front door unlock and open up.

i can hear this creaking noise and footsteps

coming up the stairs.

i see someone coming closer to the closet.

what if its daddy?

how did he find me?

how did he know i was hiding here?

i don't want to get beaten up again.

mommy, please come back and help me. 

the door's opening up and i'm too scared to look.

i just started screaming and begging for daddy to not hurt me.

i started telling daddy how i promise i'll be a good girl.

i shielded my face and started crying as i continued

whispering out pleas. 

i was waiting for daddy to hurt me.

but he didn't do anything.

slowly i heard this familiar voice

i looked up through the tears 

and i found cedric standing in front of me.

he was at a distant from me but in his hands

were a box of tissues and headphones.

he slowly set everything down as he came close to me.

he placed his arms around me

and started telling me how he's here to protect me. 

why is cedric doing this for me? 

love,

ann

scribbled on a hoodie that cedric left over one time when he came visiting ann. she hides the hoodie in her closet, hoping cedric doesn't see it.