Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 24 years ago…

An 8 year’s old little girl was lying in her bed, fighting the fever she had. Her mother was sitting next to her, caressing her hair, humming sweet melody. The girl was tossing and turning, coming out and going back, her little body was trembling in sweat. Her mother start to sob, she didn’t knowing what to do.

“It’s just a mild fever…hold on baby… You’ll be all right in the morning…” The mother said in her desperation.

Knock on the door, dragged the mother’s attention. Tall man, warring black suit was standing on the doorframe. He was quite tipsy, but manages to ask how the little girl was.

“She’s sick again…” the woman said

“She’s always sick…” the man mumbled…”What the doctor said?”

“Nothing…he doesn’t know what is wrong with her…” the woman cried.

The man turns around and walked away, leaving the sobbing woman alone with their daughter. She leans and kissed the girl on her forehead “Be strong Christina…you’ll have to pull through…” She raised and walked out of the room, closing the door looking one more time at her girl. She heard her husband’s voice coming from the living room, calling her name. As she was walking down the hall, her older daughter was coming out of her room.

“Victoria, your father’s drunk again… help him to the bedroom…” The woman passed by the girl, avoiding her gaze.

“It’s not my name he’s calling…” The young, 14 years old girl replayed firmly and coldly.

“Do as I say” The woman turned around quickly hissing and flashing her fangs.

“I’m not scared by you…” Victoria stood confidant, ready to protect herself.

“And you should have…now go and help him…” The older woman said, pushing lightly Victoria by the arm.

  Victoria walked in the living room, finding her father still drinking by the window. He turned around and tries to flash a smile, but he couldn’t. The girl approached him, taking him by the hand. “Let’s go father…” she said, leading him up stairs.

“No…I’m not done…” He said pulling away.

“Yes you are…now be good…” she took his hand one more time.

 The older man starts a fight, screaming and yelling, swearing loudly, not paying attention who was in the room with him. From the all yelling and the noise, Christina woke up, and get of the bed. The little girl walked down the hall, stopping in the end of the stairs, listening to the adults’ voices. Her bare foots were living traces on the cold flour. As close she walked forward the voices became clearer and the screams were more frightening. She walked down, and stepped in to the living room, she saw her father raising his hand ready to hit her sister. Victoria heard the little footsteps and turned around quickly “Stay where you are, Christina!”