I'm Marnie. I scrub rooms at the Gannet for my aunt Doreen, and every pound I make goes into her cash box.
Doreen: That skirting board is still filthy. Do it again.
I had twelve pounds in tips from room four. Doreen took the envelope out of my hand like it was rubbish.
Doreen: You owe me for the electric. Don't get greedy.
When I reached for it, her nails dug into my wrist and twisted. Little red moons stayed behind.
Doreen: Lucky I kept you at all. Never forget that.
I pulled my sleeve over the marks. I told myself I had earned them, same as the attic room and the toast I had for dinner.
Piper was waiting by the linen cupboard with two friends and her phone already up.
Piper: There she is. The ghost of Pellon sea wall.
My stomach dropped. I had not said Ellis Ward's name out loud in weeks, and now Piper was saying it with a smile.
Piper: You think I forgot what you did to my cousin?
I tried to get past them. One of her friends put out a foot, and I went down hard on my knees.
Piper: Look at her. Cleaning the floor with her arse.
Piper crouched and took my jaw. Her thumb dragged across my mouth, slow and gentle, like she was checking fruit for bruises.
Piper: Everyone knows what you are. A fucking psycho who threw herself at Ellis and then cried about it.
I shook my head. I did not trust my voice not to come out as a sob.
Piper: Don't you dare shake your head at me, you lying piece of shit.
The slap turned my head. My ear rang, and blood came warm on my lip.
Piper: That is nothing. Wait till my family hears.
Her friends dragged me up and shoved me into the wall. My shoulder hit first, then the back of my head, and the corridor tilted.
Piper: Hold her still.
Piper leaned in until I smelled mint. Her phone was so close I could see my blood on the screen.
Piper: Listen. If police come near my family, I will cut your fucking face open. I will film it.
I believed her. Not because I was brave or stupid, but because people like Piper did not make threats they could not keep.
Downstairs, Doreen's voice floated up from the hall. She had to have heard the slap. She did not come.
Doreen: Marnie, rooms seven and eight are still not done. You are not paid to stand about.
Piper patted my sore cheek. Then she let me go, and they went down the stairs laughing.
Piper: Do the rooms, Marnie. Nobody's coming for you.
I picked up the bucket and went back to room seven. My hands shook so badly the bleach slopped over the sides.
Nobody came to check. Nobody ever does.
How long can you live as nobody's priority before something in you gives?