Through It All

5 Years Old Marissa Ashton "Changes your clothes, we gonna go for Christmas shopping," My mom said excitedly, greeted by my excitement too. I went inside my room, telling this good news to my brother, Michael, that was five years older than me. Both of us changed our clothes and jumped to the car. I settled beside my brother and he helped me to tightened my seat belt. My mom started to drive and we sang Christmas song on the way. We finally arrived at the mall, my mom pulled off on the parking lot. Michael helped me to loosen my seat belt. My mom toted me out from the car, my brother closed the door and my mom locked it. My mom grabbed my brother hands and we entered the mall. We were greeted by the security that worn deer Christmas hat. The mall decorated in Christmas theme. Red and Green and White covering the mall. There was Santa Claus sitting on the stage and Children coming to him to took a picture. "Do you wanna take picture with him too baby?" My mom asked with her soft voices. I shook my head. "Why?" I shook my head again. I wanted a new dress not a picture with Santa Claus. "Okay then, we can do it later." We went to the kids store. My left hand flung on my mom neck and I was looking for my own dress. "Do you want this dress?" My mom asked. The dress was in red color, straight bodice and it has snowman on the bodice and green bow on the waistline. "This is pretty for you, and it has your size baby." She put me down on the floor and I went to the fitting room. My mom accompany me and helped me to worn it. It fitted me so well, I turned around like ten times in front of her and my brother. "Stop turning around, it looks good on you," My brother said. I stopped turning around and changed my clothes again. Michael bought red polo shirt with jeans long pants. What else he could bought except that. We went to sleepwear store and my mom bought Deer onesie for two of us. "This will be the happiest Christmas ever," I said to myself. We strolled around the mall and we got more clothes. The clock strokes to five and we went home. My mom cooked spaghetti for three of us. It was the most delicious spaghetti I've ever tasted. My mom kept all our new clothes in a room, so my dad didn't know we bought lot of clothes. I didn't know the reason why. We spent the rest of the night watching Disney Channel. I was holding my diary and written how happy I was that day. It all changed when my dad arrived at home. My brother shut the TV and brought me to our bedroom. I was so curious because all I heard was screaming and yelling. My brother didn't close the door properly. I stood and paced to the door, peeped from the small space. My dad was holding my mom neck and shoved her to the wall. "You're a slut, a f*****g slut." "I'm not!" My mom yelled back at him. "You dare to yell back at me?" My dad unbuckled his belt and doubled it. My heart racing faster and My brother joined me. I couldn't do anything to help her. I'm useless. He shoved my mom to the table, held her in bend over position. He started hitting her body, again and again. My heart shattered to pieces seeing my mom howling in pain. He is a monster. I was angry to myself until I realized someone could help us. "Call 911," I whispered to my brother, because that what my mom taught me. My brother called 911. "You forgot where you belong at. If I don't marry you, you will be a beggar, starving, living on the road," My dad yelled. "My life is so much better without you," My mom yelled back. "Say a word again, I'll kill you," My dad threatened. "Kill me Mr. Ashton, kill me. Kill me if you could!" My mom said in challenged tone. He started lashing my mom again, and I couldn't help but cry silently. Five minutes later, the police come. "Who the f*ck calling police ? Oh it must be your kids. The ungrateful kids," He said and paced to my bedroom. I run to my brother and both of us hid inside the blanket. My dad jerked our blanket. "Son and daughter of b*tch," My dad said in his raspy voices. He swing his belt and landed on my calves skin. It hurt so bad and I started to cry louder and louder again. He kept hitting me and my brother both of us cried. I sunk my head on the mattress, with my hands scratched it. My tears rolled down my cheeks and wet the bed. I sobbed louder and louder as the pain kept stimulating. "Stop hitting your kids Mr. Ashton. This is Police officer. Hands up," The police officer said. "You're charge for Child Abuse and Domestic Violence." He stopped, both of us running to my mom which was stood petrified behind the Policeman. We embraced her and she caressed our back to calmed us down. They handcuffed my dad and brought him by police car. We went there too because the Police wanted to ask for few question and he let us went home. I was still confused how my dad could turn into a monster like that. "Mommy are-are we-we free now?" I stuttered. "We're okay baby, we're free now," My mom said. "We have a few trial then we can move away from here and start a new life." She smirked like she has planned something for us. I looked at my brother and both of us were confused. At least, We were free from the abuser.