I woke up with my body extremely sore. My back felt like it was on fire. I felt like crying. I slowly got up and stumbled to the bathroom. Once I was inside it, I slowly took my shirt off to assess the damage on my back.

A thin layer of gauze bandage covered the cuts and bruises. I carefully and gently took them off, taking my time, not wanting to feel any more pain. As the bandage slipped down my skin the nasty cuts and bruises from my back could be seen. I gasped at the sight.

My whole back was full of purple and yellowish marks and six long deep cuts rand down on it stopping at my lower back. I now could see the reason I was feeling so much pain. The cuts were starting to get infected. I could see that the sides of the cuts were swollen and reddish.

I started to get worried, I didn't have any type of medical insurance and I sure as hell didn't have the money to pay for medical care. I bit my lower lip remembering the petal edge from my father's whip. I had never taken a tetanus shot.

I shook my head. No, I couldn't think like that. I wasn't going to get sick. It wasn't the first time I was beaten up with something with a metal edge and it wouldn't be the last. I sighed to myself. I hadn't had the time to worry about that. I had to go to work. I got into the shower and opened the old rusty tap. The water fell down my skin and I winced in pain.

We didn't have hot water at home and I was already used to the cold water hitting my skin. It was even kind of soothing in a way. I grabbed the soap and cleaned myself, taking special attention to my bruises and cuts. I winced in pain again and let the cold water fall on my back washing the soap away. The freezing water helped to numb my back and the pain became slightly more bearable.

I closed the tap once I was finished washing myself and got out of the shower. I quickly wrapped a towel around my body and tiptoed to my room.

When I got there I put on a t-shirt and jeans. I grabbed my old beaten up black converse and put them on. Grabbing my hoodie and backpack I walked out. My father hadn't awoken yet. He never did before twelve.

I huffed and began my long walk towards the pet shop I worked in. About one hour later I arrived at the store. I smiled towards the manager, Jim, who smiled back.

"How are you doing today Amy?" He asked happily.

"I'm great sir, what about you?" I lied.

"Oh jolly, I'm good as well. Thanks for asking sweetie." He answered in his strong Scottish accent. I nodded and made my way towards the back where I took off my hoodie and put it in my locker along with my backpack. I then put on a coat and started to work.

My job consisted basically of bathing, grooming and helping the veterinarians when it came to hold down the dog or cat for vaccines or small procedures. I didn't earn much but I did love my job. I've always wanted to become a vet.

It has always been my dream and I hoped that maybe I could get a scholarship to continue my studies. I just loved animals.

Differently from humans they were loyal and caring. And they would never hurt someone unless they were defending themselves or feeling threatened.

"Hey Amy, could you give me a hand here?" Manuel, my best friend, asked.

He was not very popular in town and he was extremely shy. He was from Portugal and he was living here with his family, they owned the pet-shop. He said that because he was a foreigner his English was not good and he was afraid to talk to people other then the ones he was used to. I told him over and over that this was nonsense and his English was great but he wouldn't listen. I smiled towards him.

"Yeah sure. What's up?" I asked and he pointed to the front desk where a tall man was signing up two huge dogs for a bath. I looked at them amazed. They were beautiful. I smiled excited. They were Irish Setters. I'd never seen this breed up close before.

The man smiled towards Kammie, the lady that worked at the front desk and guided the dogs towards Manuel and I. He gave us the leashes and said in a pleasant voice.

"These are Johanna and John." He said pointing to the dogs.

"They are very docile and Johanna here is a lady. But I'll warn you guys. Be careful with John, he is the playful type." He then smiled and turned away.

We guided the dogs towards the huge bathtub at the back. They were really strong, and the male one, John, tried to jump on me at least three times before I could put him inside the tub. Johanna was already inside with her head up letting Manuel bathe her. That guy was right, she was a lady.

After a long and struggling bath John was ready to be blow-dried. He was wagging his tale so hard his hips were moving with him. He was so cute!

It took me about half an hour to get him blow-dried and now it was time to groom them. I was mesmerized by this dog's fur. It was auburn-red and soft like silk.

After grooming John I put him in a leash and joined Manuel, who had just finished grooming Johanna. He smirked at me.

"Next time I'll get her and you get him." I said, tired, as John jumped on Manuel. Johanna looked at the scene as if she was embarrassed by John's behaviour. They really acted like humans. I laughed at the scene until John jumped on my back and I scream in pain.

Both dogs pulled away quickly and John whined knowing he had done something wrong. I forced myself to smile and petted his head.

I stood straight but it was too late, Manuel had already noticed something was wrong and he lifted my shirt.

I glared at him but he just looked at my back in shock. Soon enough anger replaced the preoccupation on his face.

"He did it again didn't he?" He asked angrily. He knew about my father.

He drove me home once and I forgot my backpack in his car. When he went to my house to give it back, he saw him beating me up. That night he threatened my father, he said that if he ever hurt me again he would kill him. Of course he kept doing it and I didn't tell Manuel because I was scared.

I didn't answer and he punched the wall angrily.

"You need to go to the hospital. Those cuts are pretty bad." I shook my head.

"I can't. I don't have the..." He cut me before I had the chance to finish.

"I don't care. I'm taking you to the hospital. Come on." I sighed and followed him.