Ellie's POV

I was excited to be getting ice cream and I felt confident enough to speak more and so when he fed me my dessert I decided I should do the same since I was copying him.

I demanded that he opened his mouth which he was alert and did as I told.

I was happy I never experienced this in a long time.

Then he said something so foreign.

"Mur-sea?" I repeated.

Then he nodded saying it was french for thank you.

Then he said another word and explained to me it meant princess.

I liked his old nickname for me but I liked this one better.

He also called me adorable while saying Princess.

My face was feeling heat but it wasn't like a fever heat I just didn't know what heat it was.

Soon I saw the server come back I swiftly shut myself up.

I saw him become disappointed but I would be disappointed too.

I kinda missed my old chatty self but after what my father had said to me I slowly became silent.

If I had to speak I would get anxious and feel pressured.

However whenever he seemed to know to say the right words and when.

"Brat you made me get fired. And on top of that you are still going to get treatment I'll end it today" my father angrily said and smashed a glass bottle. I made a escape but then I was yanked by my hair. "Not so fast. You have to pay for what you did" he said which made my blood run cold. He kicked me to the floor then smashed a glass bottle on me I winced. But he continued then he kicked me to the side. "Daddy" I made out. But he wasn't listening. Daddy was gone like mama. "I- I won't cause trouble" I said enduring the hits. "Shut Up! Never speak unless you are being told to!" he did his last kick before he passed out. I scrambled to my room and closed the door.

Antonio put me back in his car and I dozed off I was exhausted.

Since Antonio has given me not one but two nicknames I have to find a nickname for him...

I so badly wanted to call him daddy but I felt it wasn't the time.

Or it'll never come to that time.

I was being lifted up and I was tucked in.

It reminded me of how my father used to tuck me in and sing me a song, that's why it's been so hard to want to hurt him.

As much as he hurt me.

He was the father that celebrated my birthday and congratulated me whenever I accomplished a task.

Now I hardly knew him.

It was like all of his action was not real.

I couldn't accept the truth.

I was ready to accept Antonio as my new daddy.

While I tossed over to my side I slowly opened my eyes because I heard noises outside of my room.

I saw the nightlight and I smiled.

I went to sleep on my side again then I saw a spider it was really long and it was close to my face.

I screamed.

I scrambled away from the bed and began to tremble.

"Ellie Ellie?" I heard Antonio's voice.

I sped over to him "Spider" I said through my tears "A spider?" he asks I nodded then he picked me up "Where is it princess?" so I pointed to where I saw the spider.

I buried my face in the crook of his neck and he went and took care of the spider.

He walked into the bathroom and flushed the spider down.

"Here no more spider" he had said.

I unburied my face and looked. So then he said it was time to get ready for bed formally.

So I brushed my teeth and like what my father used to do he praised me.

And so he went to make a phone call it seemed.

I continued to brush then I spit into the sink and used a cup and rinsed my mouth out.

I grabbed a hair brush.

I've been having these sudden bursts of confidence because when he finished his call I boldly asked him to help me brush my hair which he did.

He was standing behind me as he moved the brush through my scalp.

It felt nice to have someone take care of me.

"Now can you get your jammies on?" he questioned which I nodded eagerly.

"Alright. Now I'll be in the living room let me know if you need anything" he said.

I walked out of the bathroom to get into my pajamas then he left the room.

I was still not sure if I would be staying here permanently I told myself over and over to not get too attached however it's been a failure.

Then I fell into a deep slumber.

I dreamt that my mother gave me a pet turtle for my 5th birthday and my father got promoted to general manager.

Then we would move into a nicer home we had been living in a apartment.

After that father tucked me to bed and mother sat the turtle in my room.

Then suddenly in my dream I woke up again but to find myself in the dark I had opened my bedroom door we were back in the apartment again.

I frowned.

Then I walked down the hall and I saw my mother.

I walked towards her but then as I got closer her eyes were bleeding and she raised her hand and pointed at me, saying 'all your fault if you only grow up like a normal child' she said then I ran away and went down the hall and I saw my father he was worse.

He had a glass bottle and his eyes were black and he started running towards me.

I began to whimper and thrashed around then I felt someone take a firm grip of me.

"Ellie" I heard a familiar voice say.

I shot my eyes open.

"Ellie it's just a bad dream" he said and picked me up like I'm a infant again. he wiped away my tears, and i didn't realize just being held by him would calm me down.

I felt awful, I made it a rough night and I disturbed Antonio's sleep,

"Ellie do you want to sleep in my room?" he kindly asked.

I nodded my head, scared of going to sleep

I really didn't want to close my eyes.

But seeing my mother was what scared me she wasn't the mother when she was alive.

Antonio took his hand that was free and opened the door to his room, his room was lavishly decorated, his bed was placed on a platform along with some tv and the walls were simple white with a tint of grey, his room reminded me of a really luxury hotel room.

edit: 4.19.21