For a long time, I went
to bed early. It was easier that
way. Sleep was my safe haven. My dreams blocked out the yelling and violence of
Mom’s boyfriends as they came and went. Lately it’s been a greasy man in his
late 30's names James. James and I don’t get along, but Mom says he is different
than the others, so I’m trying to get along with him for her sake.
Mom has been having a
rough time since the divorce. At first she was just tired and sad, but now she
fills the void with abusive lovers and excessive alcohol. I’m still not sure
why Dad left. Mom is still as striking as the day they got married. It’s just
now, she doesn’t have the same radiance like she used to. When he left, he robbed
her of being joyful.
James is home.
He works at the local
video store. That’s where Mom met him.
She
could do so much better.
He’s already been
drinking. I can smell the alcohol on him before he can manage to stumble past
the screen door.
This isn’t good. I rush
to my room and close the door as quietly as I can.
The yelling starts.
Mom
cries.
I attempt to block out
the sounds of the drunken rampage, but it never works, and this time is no
exception.
She doesn’t deserve
this.
She yelps again. He’s
hitting her.
I know she will forgive
him. I’ve lost track of the, I’m sorry’s and I love you’s. I can’t take it
anymore. I slowly open my bedroom door and creep to the end of the hall. The shouting
gets louder. He sees me. I freeze in terror. His angry words are nothing but a
drunken slur. Mom tries to stop him. I can feel the blood pouring from my nose
and the sting of fire overcomes my face as I stumble back in shock. Mom is
crying. She doesn’t mean for me to get hurt. He takes another hack at my face.
I fall. The world is a blur. Suddenly, I am being picked up by men in white. I
see the lights, red and blue, flashing through the window. The neighbors are
standing outside with big, worries eyes and folded hands.
Noise complaint.
James is going to jail.
He’ll be charged with
domestic violence and child abuse.
I can imagine him
hearing the ring of steel against steel as the jail cell clangs shut.
WOOOOOOOOW. This story was really great. I could feel the tension, and the sorrow with this piece. Domestic violence and child abuse is a hug concern in our world a and a big problem. I feel like you captured this topic perfectly.
ReplyDeleteSome really strong writing in this piece, Kam...This is such a great description: "Mom is still as striking as the day they got married. It’s just now, she doesn’t have the same radiance like she used to. When he left, he robbed her of being joyful." And these lines make me picture the scene exactly: "I see the lights, red and blue, flashing through the window. The neighbors are standing outside with big, worried eyes and folded hands." Your use of those short sentences set apart from the rest of the prose is so effective.
ReplyDelete