The first time

The first time he ever left a mark on me was when I was in nursery. I was about the age of four. It’s amazing that I can remember that far back. I had to go to nursery and mom had left to go to work already. I turned up at nursery with a massive purple lump on my head. The teachers at the nursery automatically asked me if I was ok and asked me what had happened.
I fell down the stairs, is what I answered. Yeah right. I 'fell' down the stairs. I was scared. The teachers always told me to tell the truth and yet he told me not to tell anyone otherwise I'd go to hell. I was kind of scared of what hell was. I knew it had fire and evil people who poked you so I didn’t really want to go there. The teachers didn’t tell us what happened to us if we lied but I was sure back then it wasn’t as bad as going to hell. Ill only tell a small lie. They won’t find out. And anyway, I thought. I did fall. It just involved someone pushing me.
I remember coming back from nursery and the teachers had helped bandaged up my head. He panicked and asked them what I had told them. I told him I said I had fallen. He praised me and I remember reaching out for his hand as we walked back home. I never knew that back then that was going to be the first of many scary moments.

Six years old

"Help help, someone’s got me!" I cried, wrapping a scarf around my Barbie attaching her to the leg of a small table in my room. "I will save you!" I said in a deep voice, making one of my 'my little ponies' come to rescue Barbie.
"Harmony come downstairs, its dinner time!" My mom shouted from the top of the stairs.
"Yes!" I said punching my fist into the air. "Sunday dinner!" I lisped, my mom laughing at me. I loved Sunday dinner made by my mom.
"Harmony, tonight I’m going out so I can’t bathe you."
"But mom it’s a Sunday! I always have a bath on Sunday!" I moaned.
"Yes I know but I have to go to a meeting. You'll still have a bath, don’t worry- dad will help you wash your hair. The rest you can do by yourself." I winced. One time dad had brushed my hair and half my hair had come out. He lived in Jamaica for his childhood so he's used to his parents being rough on him. He didn’t realise that when brushing your hair you’re not meant to tear half of it out.
"Ok. I'll go and ask Josh to turn the water on!" I said and continued happily eating my mashed potatoes.
After dinner when mom had left I went to ask my brother Josh to run the bath for me, which he did.
"Harmony, I’m busy right now so you’re going to have to wash your hair yourself." My dad shouted up the stairs.
I reached out a similar bottle to the hair shampoo. I had mistaken the bubble bath for the shampoo. I was shocked that it produced more bubbles than usual. I must have used more, I thought. I did use the right conditioner though. I reached out for the old purple cup my mom used to rinse my hair with. I didn’t like the shower so she used the cup.

(to be continued)

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Tag der Veröffentlichung: 23.01.2013

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