Page 179 of Under the Waves

She huffed. “If you stay in shape, he’ll come back to us, I just know it. You just have to win those silly competitions of yours and he’ll come back. I know he will. So, you better not fuck this up, Poppy, ya hear me girl?”

My lips quivered as I fought against the urge to squeeze my eyes shut and pretend that it was all a dream. “I-I won’t. I p-promise.”

Stay skinny and he’ll come back for us.

He won’t love us if you’re fat.

You have to win, Poppy.

Gold or nothing.

Stay in shape, Poppy.

Win the medals, Poppy.

Keep your grades up, Poppy.

Clean the house, Poppy.

Wash the dishes, Poppy.

Sweep the floors, Poppy.

Or you’ll fail us.

YouAREa failure.

Useless child.

Useless. Useless. Useless.

You never do anything right.

You can’t even look at the fucking water without having a panic attack!

Can’t even defend yourself at school—

You’re a weakling and a wimp and a coward and a sad, fragile little thing that just keeps on breaking and breaking and breaking.

Everyone walks right on over you, Poppy.

All you had to do was sayno.

But that didn’t matter, though, did it?

What was the point if no one even listened.

“You’re lying to me.” Slap. “I can see it in your eyes.” Slap. “You’ve become so disobedient, Poppy.” Slap. “Do you think I like doing this, Poppy? Do you think I like punishing you?” Again, again, again, again. “This is all your fault, Poppy. This is all because of you. You did this.” I’d lost count. Every hit felt the same. “Good girls don’t lie, ya hear me?”

My body fell to the floor. Knees buckled.

“G-good g-girls don’t l-lie,” I repeated, wincing.

She grabbed me by my hair, dragging my limbs upwards.

Fight back, Poppy.

Fight back!