I sluggishly awoke with my head pounding. I lifted my head, and I saw blood, dripping from my face. Jolting up from the shocking sight, I immediately winced; pain ran throughout my entire body. Looking down, there were large bluish-green spots and bloody cuts all over every limb. Glancing around, there was shattered glass and a baseball bat. Suddenly, I remembered all the other times I was left alone, in this state. In my own home, I would be left injured, all alone. Â
I took a sharp breath in. The bell tower! It was 3 PM! Lying on the cold wooden floor, I looked out the door Papa left open. “Oh! The school boys will see me and help me,” I thought. Sure enough, I heard them walking and laughing. Just then, they came into view of the open door.
“H--el--p me,” I muttered.
Upon seeing the scene, they whispered to each other, and ran away.
Closing my eyes and resting my head on the cold, wet floor, I thought, “That was it. That was my chance.” A single tear rolled down my cheek.
A few minutes later, I heard footsteps running down the concrete road. Then suddenly, a well-dressed woman in her mid 30s bursted through the doorway and rushed to me.
“My darling, are you okay!?!” she exclaimed. Â
“W--ho are you?” I muttered.
“I’m going to help you! Don’t worry!”
“But---,” my voice trailed off as I blacked out.
When I awoke again, I was tucked into a large, soft bed in a spacious, clean, well-furnished bedroom with the same woman sitting next to the bed, with her elbows on her knees and her head in her hands.
“W--ho are you?” I quietly asked.
She suddenly lifted her head, “Oh my, thank goodness you’re okay!” reaching out to me.
“What? How does she know my name?” I thought.
“I know you’re shocked right now, but, it’s only right that I tell you now.”
“Tell me what? I don’t know you lady…,” I questioned in thought.
“I am...your mother.” Â
“WHAT?! MOTHER?! BUT PAPA TOLD ME SHE DIED??” I exclaimed in thought.
“I know your Papa said I died before you were born, but that’s not true. I’m your real mother.” Â
“Your Papa and I dated a long time ago. I got pregnant but I didn’t want to marry Papa. I was going to give you up...but Papa insisted on you be born. I didn’t have any money when you were born, so Papa kept you instead.”
“Johnny, I know you’re confused and this is a lot for you. But at that time, I was young and scared. I’ve been trying to get back to you ever since, but Papa never let me near you. I know Papa has been doing horrible things to you and I hated myself for not being able to save you.”
“You knew? Then now what? Papa won’t let me leave the house.”
“No. I will make it happen. Johnny, tell me honestly. Do you want to leave that place? Do you want to come live with me?”
Without much thought, I quietly answered, “yes, please save me.”
That was all she needed to hear, “Trust me Johnny, everything will be okay.”  Â
For the next few weeks, I stayed in Mama’s home. Trained by Papa, I never left the home. He said there were many bad, scary things outside, to never go and to be afraid. I soon realized, those were lies that Papa told me so I would never leave him and I would depend on him.
Every day, I became more comfortable with Mama. Thankfully, Papa never came. She spent time taking care of my wounds, talking to me and cooking food for me. This was the first time I ever felt, loved. “This is what it feels like. This is what a family, a home really is,” I thought.
A few weeks later, during dinner, I asked, “Mama, how did you know I was there that day?”
“I didn’t, I saw the group of school boys run past me on the street and I just got a feeling that you were in trouble.”
“Thank you for coming Mama. Even being 9 years late, wherever you are, that is meant to be my home. You are my real home.”
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