Essel’s Pov
I struck my hand down on the alarm clock the moment it sounded. My body had adapted to waking just before it rang to avoid disturbing my father.
Today marked another day of school, and while I despised it, it was preferable to remaining here.
I activated the shower and stepped in once the water reached a scalding temperature. A shower was only satisfying when the water left a slight redness on my skin.
I cleansed my body, being cautious of the bruises scattered across my torso. They were still relatively fresh and tender to the touch. However, I had grown accustomed to the pain by now and it no longer bothered me as much.
After turning off the shower, I grabbed a towel and dried myself swiftly before donning a hoodie and sweatpants.
I gathered my damp hair into a braid an
