Please vote and then read!"

...In shadows of the past, I dwell...

...Where memories of pain still linger well...

...A childhood marred by darkness deep...

...A heart that once was broken, now asleep...

...But in the light, a glimmer shines...

...A children's laughter, a gentle sign...

...Of hope reborn, of love anew...

...A chance to heal, to start anew...

Selin:

The room was alive with laughter and the cheerful sounds of kid playing. Amidst the excitement, I heard Savash exclaim, "Yayy, goal!" His eyes sparkled with the thrill of competition, the joy of scoring in our makeshift soccer game in the backyard. Just a few feet away, Danial tried to maintain his composure but couldn’t hide the hint of a grin curling on his lips. “Omg, I lost!” he said in mock despair, his tone dripping with playful exaggeration. The sight of them—it warmed my heart. In that moment, as I watched them banter back and forth, I felt an overwhelming sense of contentment. They looked so adorable like this. I couldn’t help but think that I finally had a perfect family.

But then, just as quickly, a shadow crossed my mind, and the warmth of the moment was chased away by the ghosts of my past. Memories flooded back, jagged pieces of a painful history I had tried so hard to bury deep within myself.

Flashback:

I was only eleven years old when the ground beneath my feet fell away. My mother, the one person in my life who radiated love and kindness, was gone. The day she passed away still felt surreal—a haze of confusion and sorrow that I could barely comprehend. Even now, the reason for her death remained an enigma, a dark, swirling mystery that tormented me. All I knew was that shortly after her funeral, my father’s grief transformed into a bitterness that seemed to consume him.

In the depths of his anguish, he found a target—me. He blamed me for her death, often saying that if I had been a better child, she would still be alive. Those words cut through me like a knife, leaving scars that would take years to heal. I was just a child; how could I be responsible for something I didn’t understand?

When my father married Sofia, a woman he had known since his college days, I clung to the fragile hope that perhaps things would change. Maybe there was a chance for a new beginning, for love to fill the void left by my mother’s absence. But Sofia was not the answer I had been seeking. To my horror, I learned that she had always despised my mother—resentment fueled by jealousy over a love that once was. She had been waiting in the wings, and now, having married my father, she unleashed her own cruelty upon me.

Instead of compassion or kindness, I encountered a mercilessness that felt insatiable. With each passing day, my world shrank further under the weight of their scorn. It was more than just beatings; it was an assault on my very spirit, a constant reminder that I was unworthy of love, that I didn’t matter. Our home became a prison brimming with fear, a place where the concept of safety had all but vanished.

I lost faith in love, and those who claimed to care. I grew to despise men, convinced that all they wanted was to exploit and degrade. My heart hardened against the world, making it easier to believe that cruelty reigned supreme. I existed in isolation, surrounded by two people who wielded their power over me with glee.

Instagram(author_khan_)

Please vote and then read!

...In the depths of silence, where shadows play...

...A tale of terror, in a world gone astray...

...A young heart beats, with a soul so pure...

...But in the darkness, her fate is obscure...

...The screams are muffled, the cries are hushed...

...As the demons dance, with a wicked rush...

...The past is shrouded, in a veil of pain...

...As the victim's story, is forever in vain...

...But still she holds on, to a glimmer of hope...

...A beacon of light, in a world that's scope...

...Is to break free, from the chains that bind...

...And rise above, the silence that's left behind...

...In the shadows of silence, where secrets sleep...

...Lies a story of strength, and a heart that does creep...

...Through the darkness, where nightmares unfold...

...A tale of resilience, that will forever be told....

Selin:

Savash: Mamaaaa! Mama! Mama!

Daniel: Selin! Selin! Wake up!

Selin: Huh? What... what happened?

Daniel: Nothing, love. You just fell asleep on the bench while Savash and I were playing. Are you okay? Do you have a fever? Let me check.

Selin: Wait, I'm totally fine. Let's go inside.

Daniel: No, actually, your eyes are red. Were you crying? What happened, love? Tell me who made you cry like that. I'll kill that asshole.(Those two assholes have already died... I muttered under my breath.)

Selin: I'm fine; you're just worrying for no reason. Nothing happened. Now let's go inside, c'mon.**

Savash: Mamaaa, I'm hungry!

Selin: Oh, my baby! Let's go inside. I've baked pastries.

Savash: Yummmmm, pastries! (They both exclaimed.)

Hahahah, what a lovely family I have!

Flashback:

Several years passed since my father and Sofia got married. I was 15 at the time. My alarm clock started beeping, and I groaned. Ugh, I hate getting up so early in the morning. I threw the alarm clock against the wall and stumbled out of bed. Grabbing my phone from the nightstand, I checked the time: it was 5 am. Oh gosh, I'm going to be late! I hurriedly started cleaning my room and then went downstairs to tidy up the house. Sofia and my father were still asleep.

I moved quietly, well aware that once they woke up, any noise would provoke their anger. Anyway, I cleaned the TV lounge, kitchen, and the other two rooms, washed the dirty clothes, and then ventured into the backyard to water the plants I had planted. My house was small and had just one floor. On the ground floor, there was a kitchen, a lounge, and one room. The upper floor housed two rooms and a balcony, while outside, there was a small backyard. With time slipping away, I dashed upstairs to finish my assignment and pack my school bag.

Afterward, I headed to the washroom for a shower. I indulged in a hot shower that lasted almost 30 minutes, allowing the warmth to relax my body. I brushed my teeth and then went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for myself. After quickly whipping something up, I grabbed my bag, slipped on my uniform and shoes, and tied my hair into a bun. I applied a light pink lip gloss on my lips and a touch of red tint on my cheeks. Since it was a bit chilly that day, I wore an off-white sweater over my uniform and rushed out of the house.

It was 7:30 am, and school started at 7:45 am. Thankfully, the school was just a 10-minute walk from my house. After three lectures, break time began at 11 am. Once the break was over, I attended three more classes, and when the school bell rang at 1 pm, signaling the end of the school day, I packed my things and headed straight home.

While walking, I noticed my classmates discussing a birthday party, but I felt detached. I had no friends in class and never participated in social events. Upon opening the front door, I was greeted by a loud crash that reverberated through the house. My dad and Sofia were fighting again, breaking things in their typical violent manner. This situation had become almost a daily occurrence. I tried to intervene and stop them, but my efforts were met with punishment instead.

Sofia retreated to her room, leaving me to face my father's fury alone. He unleashed his rage, beating me with his belt until I collapsed and lost consciousness. When I regained awareness, it was 5 pm, and I saw Sofia emerge from her room. Without a word, she slapped me across the face and ordered me to make tea for her.

Dragging myself into the kitchen, my body screamed in agony, each movement a reminder of the trauma I had endured. Sofia's sadistic pleasure was evident as she watched me struggle. She struck me again, her blows landing precisely, making my head spin. Then, grasping my wrist like a vice, she slammed my hand onto the scorching stove. The piercing pain of my skin burning was excruciating, and the smell of charred flesh filled the air.

I screamed, but my cries vanished into the laughter that spilled from Sofia's lips. She reveled in my suffering, her eyes sparkling with sadism. After what felt like an eternity, she released me, leaving me to prepare tea with my mangled hand. Somehow, I managed to complete the task, my vision blurring from the pain.

Once finished, I trudged upstairs, my body battered and bruised, my spirit crushed. I applied ointment to my burns, the fire of the sting reminding me too harshly of my reality.

The next day, I awoke to the agonizing sensation of my father's hands clawing at my body, his touch a toxic poison that made my skin burn with revulsion. It was a weekly ritual, a sadistic game he played with my already shattered soul. I tried to resist, to fight back, but he was a merciless monster, crushing my fragile strength in his grasp. No matter how much I screamed or begged for mercy, his twisted lust for power only fueled his violence.

When he finally left my room, I was a broken, bleeding thing - my body and mind ravaged by his brutality. Lying there, helpless and alone, the suffocating darkness closed in around me like a shroud, threatening to engulf whatever remained of my will to survive.

Instagram(author_khan_)

Hello everyone!

I'm super excited to start sharing my book with you all! As a first-time author, I'd be forever grateful for your love and support. Please bear with me as I navigate this writing journey.

I'm having a bit of trouble describing my characters' appearances, so I'll post some pictures to help you visualize them. Sorry about that, and thank you for understanding!

Please show your support by voting and reading my book. Your encouragement means the world to me!

Byeeee, babiess!

P.S. I'll be posting updates and pictures, so stay tuned!

*Trigger Warning:*

This story contains mature themes, including:

- Sexual abuse

- Physical and emotional violence

- Trauma and abuse

Please read with caution. If you or someone you know has experienced similar situations, resources are available to help. You can reach out to organizations such as RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) or the National Domestic Violence Hotline for support.

Remember to prioritize your well-being and safety.

Instagram(author_khan_)

Date:Sun,20October

📍I've recently deactivated my Instagram account (@author_khan_). I am curreny using this acc (Halfdeadpoet._).Please note that this account is primarily for responding to inquiries or updates. I no longer post book-related content here. Instead, I share my poetry and other creative writings.