The beatings at home continued. When Shaun couldn"t get to me, he went for my cats. I had taken to barricading myself in my room. I never came out. Every time I left my room I was mocked and ridiculed, threatened, or down-right beaten.
That year, my father accommodated a request I made. He built a cat door for my room. The cat door allowed the cats to pass in and out of my room via the closet without my ever having to open my door. It meant my cats could run from my half-brother and escape without my having to risk a beating myself. I kept a cat box in my room with food and water at all times. The cats quickly learned that my room was safe. They weren"t the only ones. I also learned that lesson well.
“Open the damn door!” Shaun shouted and punched the door. I was throwing all my weight a
