“I finally got myself up and right when he went to take a swing at my head, I was able to stop him and look him in the eyes and tried to plead with him that it was me and mom was gone for good. He paused and dropped the club and I really thought I had gotten through to him. But then a hateful rage clouded his face and he shouted, ‘No one lies to me you sick whore!’

“That’s when he grabbed me by the back of the neck and gripped my hair in his fist. Then he shoved my head into the edge of the counter. I guess I blacked out, because when I woke up, I was covered in blood and I couldn’t see him anywhere. I didn’t want to wait and see if he’d come back so I just left and went to your place. I didn’t know where else to go.â€? She let out a sob. Just one short sob and clung onto Aiden’s sleeve.

“We need to get you to a hospital, Zee. You probably broke a few bones and you most likely got a concussion.â€?