“At 3AM, my brother dragged me out of bed and b.e.a.t me until my lips split while my father stood in the doorway laughing. I called 911 with shaking hands… then everything went black. When I woke up, they were telling the police I was the problem.”

Aaron dragged me across the living room carpet, my skin scraping painfully against the rough fibers, before shoving me toward the coffee table with violent impatience.

“You want to call someone for help, Madison, then go ahead and try,” he sneered, his confidence bordering on mockery.

My phone was suddenly in my trembling hand, slick with sweat, though I had no memory of grabbing it. I pressed 911 with shaking fingers as Aaron lunged toward me, yet I twisted away just enough for the dispatcher’s voice to pierce the chaos.

“911, please describe the emergency you are currently experiencing,” the calm voice asked.

“My brother is attacking me inside our house, please send someone immediately,” I choked out, just before Aaron slammed me into the edge of the couch with crushing force.

The room fell into a stunned silence, broken only by the dispatcher repeating urgently, “Ma’am, can you still hear my voice and respond clearly?”

I tried desperately to answer, but darkness swallowed everything.

When awareness returned, cold air bit against my skin and bright lights stabbed at my eyes. My cheek rested against the carpet while unfamiliar voices drifted through the haze.