Cynthia Dion: "That's enough, father!" I shouted as I lunged and pulled my sister away from him. "I was never going to leave her behind," I retorted through tears. Didn't he see the redness on my skin? Didn't he care? "You couldn't wait until I got home? I get picked on every single day. School life is already terrible. Everyone is a damn bully. Every little thing I do, I get picked on for days. Couldn't you spare me this one time? Now I'll be a hot topic for weeks. I'll suffer all because of you." It felt liberating to express my emotions and say what I had been bottling up in my heart. Dad unveiled the last blow he had been reserving: "Don't worry, you won't be facing them because you're not going to school anymore," he stated, pointing at me and then at Flora, who immediately burst into tears. I felt ashamed for exacerbating the situation for her. "That’s unfair. She did nothing; don’t punish her." I was back to making requests after he demonstrated who held the power to make decisions in this household. "Unfair? It's unfair when none of my daughters want to work for me. You should be getting a job and ensuring my needs are met. And if that's too much for you, you should be willing to sell yourself for me and your sister, now that you're old enough." He shook his head, not hiding his desire to exploit me to his old friends. The fact that he said all of this in front of poor Flora was revolting and must have been traumatic for my little sister. "I don't want to miss school," Flora whimpered. Since looking after her was ultimately my responsibility, I couldn't even meet her eyes to offer comfort. I forced myself to prepare my father's lunch and dinner, though I desperately wanted to just lie down and cry my heart out. Such luxuries were never meant for the rogues. "I am so sorry; I am the reason you are being punished." I sat beside Flora after my father took the food and left for his room with our bags and books. Flora had fallen asleep after crying all day, but I couldn't sleep. "I can’t let this happen. I have to find a way to persuade Dad to let Flora and me finish school," I thought with determination. One name kept popping into my head as someone who might be able to help me. Since my father had taken away my phone, I once again resorted to using his phone. "Mr. Holt! That’s it. I know what to do." Leaping to my feet, I tiptoed to my father’s room. He had fallen asleep after consuming alcohol. Holding his phone in my palms, I went outside to conceal myself in the shower area. Going through his phone was very disturbing for me as a daughter. I was embarrassed by my father because he had the numbers of all the women he periodically called to ask if they would like to have sex with him for free. "Mr. Holt!" I let out a sigh. I was about to give up because going through the list was making me nauseous. "I'm sure he will help us," I told myself, bolstering my resolve as I dialed his number and waited for him to pick up. Seated on the cold bathroom floor, I hoped Dad wouldn't wake up."Hello?" His voice sounded sleepy. I couldn't process for a moment as the memory of his handsome face matched his sexy, drowsy voice in my mind. "Mr. Holt?" He sounded slightly alarmed from the other end because I hadn't said anything. "I am Cynthia." I bit my lip shortly after introducing myself. "His daughter." The complete silence from the other side made me wonder whether he was angry or annoyed that I had disturbed his sleep. I've only been around men who would get angry at the smallest things. However, he wasn't entirely silent. I noticed his footsteps and the door slamming shut. He was probably walking toward something. "Cynthia?" he asked loudly after he had closed the door. "Yes," I uttered, wondering if I should have prepared a speech first. "Is everything alright? Where is your father?" The concern in his voice sounded genuine, but it was the interest he was showing that caught my attention. "He is fine--wasted!" I whispered, "I called you because I needed your help." I bit my tongue immediately after finishing the sentence. "Go ahead," he said suddenly, not sounding overly interested in helping me, unlike what he had shown in our last meeting. "My father dragged me out of school and forbade both Flora and me from ever going back. I want-- you to convince him to let us continue our studies," I requested, knowing my father would never let him down. He would casually decline or reject his other friends' demands, but not Mr. Holt. The respect my dad would show towards his name was itself a sign that he was powerful enough to control my father. "Hmm! I can help you, but the only way to do so is to be a bit bold. I don't know if you will be capable of doing that," he said, making me close my eyes and imagine what it could possibly be. As I kept my eyes closed, flashes of Flora’s cries reminded me why I needed to do anything to get us back in school. "I am ready to do anything," I said confidently. "Well, then you have to meet me alone at this time. Do you think you can do that?" His words and tone sent goosebumps throughout my body. My eyes were fixed on the empty wall, and my mouth hung open, reflecting the shock I had received from him.