SARAH
The walk home from school felt like a death march. I shifted my backpack, heavy with textbooks I’d probably never have time to study.
As I approached the familiar wrought-iron gates of the Walker mansion, I realized that my problems at school were nothing compared to the one I was about to face.
Yes, I had just one tormentor at home but several at school, which made the drama at home different from that at school. At least at school, I could fight back, could stand up for myself without worrying about losing a roof over my head. Here, I had to bite my tongue and swallow my pride every single day.
The house felt different when Mrs. Walker wasn’t around to buffer the tension between Rian and me. Without her watchful presence, he became bolder, more cruel.
I was going to be alone w
