Maybe this will drive me to start writing again....
He was coming.
She turned and ran, she didn't even think about it. Not really. She knew what would happen, what always happens. The door pulled her up short, she
scrabbled at it, fear making her clumsy. She'd broken it yes, but was that a reason? Of course it was, it was always the reason, or something similar. She pulled the door open but it had taken too long, he'd caught her.
She was pulled away from the door, the portal slammed closed as she lost her balance. She cried out, his hand already striking her even as her she fell to the floor, curling up instinctively.
Words filled her ears, their sounds meaningless.
"Why did you...how many times have I told you?" On and on, justifications for her punishment shouted In her direction, each statement punctuated by the meaty slap of hand on flesh, again and again.
He loved her, she was sure of this, but why did it then feel wrong. Obviously she'd upset him but did she really deserve this?
She flinched away from each blow, her small frame rocking under the slaps, bruises beginning to crowd her pale skin.
She knew it would be different later, that she'd be welcome in his arms again. Hugged and told how precious she was but for now there was just the pain and her attempts to blank it out, to endure it.
A last slap struck her side, tears in her eyes as he turned to walk away. No comfort offered, tears unshed in case she angered him more, she raised her head, forcing herself to unfold from her ball as she watched her father walk away.