Forget when I said I had it good.
Just think of it no more.
I nursed the bruises on my face, mainly under my eye. I dare say, as it may be, I deserved it. Master William's had visitors, they had supper here. Upon my serving... the seemingly old aged man grabbed my behind making me lose my grip on the tray I was holding. It all went daubing all over him and his wife. I didn't do it calculatedly, I swear I didn't. I was startled, this had happened so many times to me in my life but I still managed to be startled. It was never something I would get used to.
The man continuously said that my owners didn't discipline me enough and that I was a little ungrateful floozy. He also kept talking about my body. He said it was my fault that I wore a dress that outline my behind like that. I did not own any tight fitting clothes, I did not understand what he wanted me to wear. I did not respond as I cleaned up the mess. As soon as I was done, Master William stared at me with so much vile anger. Lady Tracy took Liam to bed. Master William grabbed me my arm and locked us in the basement where he relentlessly beat me with his belt, kicked me and pushed me to the ground. I had never in my life been beaten this badly. When he was done, he couldn't even look at my bloody mess.. he left.
I could hear laughter afterwards, although I thought I was hallucinating.
The basement was not only my room. In the far corner there were tools and all that junk and on the other corner was my bed and a dressing table with drawers where I kept my clothes. There was also a shower, not like the one upstairs, but it was still in a good working condition.
Waking up this morning, I looked slightly better. More damage was on my body not my face - I had just a few bruises here and there.
I didn't know what Master William did for a living but he was only twenty-six, sometimes he was home all the time and sometimes he was gone for weeks, sometimes months at a time. Such a happy time!
I managed to clean the house, dust up and make breakfast. When I went to wake up Liam and get him all bathed and ready for the day. The little boy just kept staring at me.
"I'm sorry..." He said softly, while I was bathing him. He was five and I was still required to do so. Including clothe him. I didn't want him to know what his father had done or how evil the world was. I wanted to protect him from all the vileness this world had.
"Close your eyes Liam, the soap might get in your eyes.." I told him.
He listened.
After rinsing and dabbing his face with a towel, he gave me a toothy smile. It made me all warm inside. I smiled back at him.
"I love you Nase." He muttered, he had a hard time pronouncing my name but these simple words meant so much to me. I had only been here for three months and this little boy had grown fond of me.
"I love you too Liam."
"When I grow up, we will go far far away to a nice place. Where everyone is happy and.. and.. and w-we all stay together."
I understood exactly what he meant. I'd like to think before any revolution would revolt, I would probably be dead and forgotten. I didn't even have a reason for living honestly. Pastor Richardson told us that those who commit suicide go straight to Hell.. maybe my mother was right. They created a religion to control us mentally. I'd like to think it's also true, committing suicide would land me in hell. I just prayed I would get a beating that will lead me straight to my death.
"That's nice, Liam." I told him. "You're a very very smart boy, I hope you never change."
"Dad, I'm bathing!!" Liam yelled.
"Oh so Nashe can see you bath but I can not?" Master William chuckled from behind me. I tensed.
I was kneeling on the floor next to the bathtub. I didn't dare turn around. I was afraid but I had to greet him to avoid causing anymore problems for myself.
"Good Morning Master William."
"Good morning." He replied, gruffly.
"Stand up, Liam. The water is getting cold, wouldn't want you becoming sick alright?"
My ribs hurt, my arms hurt.. my body hurt but I had to keep going. I couldn't complain. I prayed Master William had left and that he wasn't watching me.
Once Liam was all dressed up. I combed his blonde locks backwards. He gave me a toothy smile. Whenever he smiled, I wanted to smile.
"Where does it hurt?" Liam questioned.
"No where, I'm fine Liam."
"You should be resting Nase." The five year old seemed concerned but I shook my head. "I'm perfectly fine Liam see—" I showed him, turning around for him. My eyes immediately found those of his father. I was utterly embarrassed, I thought he had left.
"I apologize." I said quickly turning back around. The door then closed and I was beyond glad. The day went on really fast. The only thing I could think of was my bed, it was uncomfortable but it was still my bed and I really wanted to be in my bed. I did not eat, Lady Tracy said that was my punishment for wasting food yesterday. It was perfectly fine with me, I wasn't hungry either. When she said I couldn't have water either that's when I .. was at loss of words.
I avoided him all day.
Surely he would have the decency of not coming to lay with me when he had battered and bruised me up badly. I was wrong, he came. I looked down, not wanting to look at him.
"Evening Master Williams."
He didn't respond.
I immediately turned around and started unbuttoning my dress. The faster we started, the sooner he would be done. What he did next absolutely astound me. He left a plate of food and a jug of water then left.