"It’ll be okay, darling" His reassuring words broke me out of thought. He always called me darling, never Spencer. I loved my pet name he used. It made me feel special.

Once inside the house, I’m met with warmth, and the smell of food cooking. This was going to be my new home.

"We’ll get whatever you want from your old bedroom tomorrow." He looks at his watch and sighs. "I’ll show you your room before dinner." I follow him down a hallway to a door at the end. "It’s not much." The door opens revealing a very small room with a bed. "Get comfortable and come join us." He leaves me alone.

The twin bed barely fits. There is no room for a dresser at all. The only storage space I have is a tiny closet in the corner. Sitting on my new bed, in my new room, I realize for the first time that my life has changed forever. My new life isn’t even a day old and I already miss my old life with my family.

Dinner that night was my first clue that everything wasn’t what it seems. Nancy never talked and made sure his plate was made before sitting. She waiting on him hand and foot. When his drink ran out she would run to the kitchen to replace it without being asked. My dad always got his own. He never expected mom to wait on him at his every whim.

That night, I heard the quiet pleas from Nancy. She was begging for forgiveness about dinner being late. He was stating rather loudly that it was unacceptable for his dinner not to be on the table waiting for him at six o’clock everyday.

The next sound I heard sent a cold chill through my body. A slap rang down the hallway followed by cries of pain. He had hit her. My dad had never hit any of us. He always said hitting was wrong. My ten year old self wanted to help Nancy, but I wasn’t sure how.

The next morning, Nancy’s face is covered. She’s trying to hide it but I heard it. I know there is a bruise there. "Are you okay? I heard you last night."

The shock and embarrassment, that flows over her face because of my question is immediate. I know I found out her deep, dark secret.

"Spencer, listen to me. You can never tell. He’ll kill me or both of us if that happens"