In the haze of a drugged euphoria a young soul escapes reality. In the dankness of the basement she sits on a musty old couch. The apolstry is worn so thin that in some places the springs show. In a gentle motion she raises the remaints of a smoldering joint to her lips. Inhale, hold....finally she lets it go. The smoke seeps out of her small downturned mouth. Her hair, a dark auburn, lays in tangled nests around her shoulders. Her dark brown eyes, which used to sparkle with life, are now lackluster and distant. In her mind she has already slipped away. Back to a happier time that seems so long ago. Everything was right with the world back then. Her mother nad father still loved each other. A tall wiry man walks down the stairs to the basement. His hair is black and greasy. He reeks of cigarette smoke and body odor. His big black boots pound the floor as he walks.The young girl inwardly cringed as he sat on the edge of the couch. His hands slowly worked their way from her knee, to her hip, to her breast where it stopped. The other cupped her behind her neck. As he bent down to kiss her, she got a strong wiff of his breath that stank like stale beer.She knew that he did not love her or even remotely care for her. She had no feeling anyway. And as he wispered her name, she began to relive that horrible moment. A man she trusted as a father took away her innocence. He forced her to have sex with him. He beat her, and she cried. For she could not fight him. Her hands and feet were bound and a gag choked the life out of her. She did not care about herself anymore. As the young man's rough hands move over her soft skin; she lays there silent. She let him do what he wanted to do. He grunted and groaned; she laid there stiff and unfeeling. He stood up and zipped his pants. "Thanks babe, I really needed that." As he clomped back up the stairs, she pulls a blanket over her. She dowsed the joint and then turned on her side. She told herself that she did not care, and in all actulity she didn't. With her legs tucked into her stomach, she cried. And as the tears fell, she thought of her mother. Thoughts of her love and kindness filled her mind. She closed her eyes and after a long while fell into a very restless sleep.