ashley’s family was largely traditional. both parents work, but mother’s job allows her home often, and it was she that largely raised her daughter. father was loving but, due to work, travelled often, and sometimes for periods as long as a week or two. both of her parents love her, of this she has no doubt. sometimes their standards would rise too high regarding grades, birthing tension and arguments, but their concern was good - natured at its core.
mother, however, for all her love, could not keep from harming her daughter. the beatings were infrequent ( a single slap or strike more common ) but enough to teach ashley to fear. father was told only a few times of the incidents, and would speak to his wife of them, but did not understand the depth of the abuse his daughter suffered, thinking it merely a slap once or twice. not acceptable, no! but not worthy of a divorce.
within the past year or so, the abuse has waned, largely because ashley moved to college and because mother considered her too old for such punishments. she has taken a year off, though, in the wake of the terror she experienced at the lodge, and lives with her family once again. mother has not raised a hand to her, and ashley does not expect she will, but she flinches too easily.
none of her friends know of the abuse she suffered; most marks were left on stomach or arms, simple enough to hide. those that wandered to her face could be lied away. she loves her mother, she does. loves her dearly. she does not know how square that with the fear she feels.
2087
vaporwave
ellievsbear
