Then
I passed out after he carved the first few letters into my skin.
I had been tied to his bed, kicking and screaming while he did so, before he placed duct tape over my mouth to shut me up. I was stripped naked and watched as he pulled a sharp knife out, holding it up beside his face.
“You never should have tried to leave me, little girl,” he growled, his eyes bloodshot red, I assumed from his drunkenness.
My heart pounded in my chest, my limbs too exhausted from straining against the rope tied to my ankles and wrists.
“Now you won’t be able to. You will have my name carved all over your weak, pathetic body. You will be too ashamed to show any other man your hideous scars. Won’t you?”
I began to cry. It was pointless to do anything else at that point. I wasn’t sure if I even wanted to live anymore; I think I wanted him to hurt me beyond repair at that point.
He walked towards me and quickly jumped on top of me, straddling me between his legs. I saw his erection clear underneath his jeans—he was getting off on this.
“I don’t think my name will suffice. Perhaps I should write ‘slut’ as well? I mean, that’s what you are for trying to leave me.”
he began to cut into my stomach. The pain seared through my body, the stinging on my skin worse than any blow he could give me.
“S.” He was smiling, slowly gliding the knife across my skin. “L.” My eyes began to flutter shut. “U.”
I was too scared to even move…and then, with the pain unbearable, I passed out.
I woke up still tied to the bed, my whole body on fire. Michael was nowhere to be seen. I looked down at my body and saw blood oozing from the wounds on my stomach and thighs. I began to sob, afraid of Michael coming back and doing more damage to me. After my tears were all dried out, I realized the sun was starting to come up. I heard movement outside the bedroom; I shut my eyes tight to avoid seeing Michael walk through the door. The door creaked open and I began to shake. I could hear his footsteps inching closer to the bed as he sighed.
“It really is a shame, my sweet girl. I didn’t want to hurt you like this. But you never should have tried to leave me.” His voice was almost a whisper.
I opened my eyes, tears falling down the sides of my cheeks.
“Oh, baby. Don’t cry. You’re bound to me for life, doesn’t that excite you?”
I froze. Bound to him?
“Look, I even got you a ring.” He smiled as he sat down beside me, holding up a silver band. “It’s for my sweet girl. Inside it’s engraved ‘Daddy’s girl.’” He slipped the ring on my left ring finger.
My brain instantly went from hatred back to obsession. He cares about me. He loves me. He bought me a ring .
“Do you love it, baby?” He looked up at me as he grazed my breast softly with his hand.
I nodded slowly.
“Let me untie you. Let’s get you cleaned up and I will take care of these wounds for you.”
The burning on my skin started to subside. Now it was set in stone: I could never leave him. I was always going to belong to him. I was bound to him forever, and somehow…I was okay with that.