I wake up in the morning and walk to the mirror with my present and note. I say, “Happy birthday Anne,” and kiss my forehead on the mirror. I open the present slowly so as not to spoil the surprise. Guess what it is? A red and green pencil box with the picture of Tom and Jerry! It is so beautiful. How nice of mum and papa to get it for me. And the note. It says,

Hi Anne,

Happy birthday darling. You are the best thing that ever happened to us. We all love you so much.

Love - Mom, Dad and Rob.

I place an eraser, two pencils, and one sharpener and close it. It looks so nice when it opens and closes.

“What the fuck is that?” my papa yells. He stands at the doorway. I’ve heard him say that word before. But I don’t know what it means. I know he says it to mum a lot.     

“My birthday present papa,” I say. I am scared. He smells of whiskey.

“Who gave it you?” His eyes are red. He looks at me like he looks at mum when he’s mad. I go underneath my bed. He drags me out by my leg.  

“Are you fucking stealing again?” he says. Spit comes out when he speaks. He closes the room. I hope my mum comes in, but she doesn’t. My brother is still sleeping. White powder sticks to his upper lip. Papa breaks my pencil box. He removes his belt. He leaves.  

I look at myself in the mirror. Now I have bruises like my mum does. Black and blue. I stroke one on my chin. It hurts. I kiss my bruise on the mirror.

I still have the note.