Stella Mia Read Online Free Page A

more deranged than usual as he calls me a whore and promises to kill me.
    â€œPapá! Prega di fermarsi! ” I plead with him to stop, but that only angers him more. He now resorts to hurling mounds of wet sand at me. Shielding my face with my hands, I sob uncontrollably. But I am not crying because of the rocks and sand hitting me. All I can think of is that I will no longer have this haven I can escape to, for he will now keep an even closer watch on me.
    â€œAiii!” I scream as my father yanks my hair, slapping my face with his free hand. He then releases my hair and begins undoing his belt.
    I decide to make a run for it and jump off the boulder. Though I can smell liquor on his breath and suspect he’s very drunk, he still manages to catch up to me. I run into the water, oblivious to the fact that I’ll surely drown. But when my feet no longer feel the sharp rocks that line the ocean’s floor, my father reaches me and grabs the nape of my neck. With little warning, he thrusts my face down into the water and then lifts my head up just enough so that I have a quick gasp of air before he plunges me back underwater. At first, I fight back, trying to overcome my father’s massive strength. But on the third plunge, I give up. Isn’t this what I wanted after all—to die and be rid of him forever?
    As I discovered a long time ago, my wishes and prayers never come true. I’m amazed that I even love attending church and still pray to God. For it’s become quite clear, He’s forgotten about me. So why should now be any different? Instead of killing me as my father had vowed to do, he carries me out of the water, dropping me on the sand. He sits down next to me, holding his head in his hands. I turn over onto my stomach, coughing and spitting up water. My chest heaves as I gulp in whatever air I can. When my father sees I’m struggling, he merely comes over and gives my back a hard thump with his fist, which only elicits more coughing. And the stench of fish, which is always on my father because of his trade as a fisherman, makes me want to gag.
    â€œWhy do you disobey me? Why?” Papá’s expression is full of hatred.
    â€œYou never told me I was not allowed to come here.” I cringe in anticipation of my words provoking another attack.
    â€œYou know you are not to go anywhere without a chaperone and at this time of the night? You do not need me to tell you that you are forbidden from leaving the house so late. I rarely allow you to go outdoors alone during the day. Do you really think I would allow it in the dead of night? There could only be one reason why you would do such a foolish thing. Who were you meeting?”
    â€œNo one. I swear, Papá. It is the only time I have to myself and don’t need to worry about the children.”
    â€œAh? So now you need time to yourself? What is his name? I will make sure he never walks again. Tell me his name. Now!” My father towers over me with his hand raised in the air.
    â€œPlease, Papá! Just think. Where could I have met anyone? I am always with you and Mama and the children.”
    â€œHere! You could have met him here. How do I know he isn’t hiding behind one of these boulders right now, quivering like a coward?” He squints, trying to see in the darkness, and screams, “Come out! You hear me? Come out! Be a man!” Then he begins searching for my imaginary lover, looking behind each of the boulders that sit along the shoreline.
    My father’s search momentarily rescues me from another thrashing. But I know it has just bought me a few minutes. For when he doesn’t find anyone hiding behind the rocks, he’ll beat me until I tell him who I was meeting. Tears stream down my face. I don’t know how much longer I can go on living like this.
    â€œI’ll find you! You hear me? Maybe not tonight, but I will find you!” Papá continues yelling into the night, his