ra's

Empty bottles were scattered across the living room, and broken glass was on the floor where he'd thrown something in one

ached all over, and I could already tell that there was dried blood in my hair from the injury last night. But I hadn't had the

best of my abilities. My hands trembled, my whole body felt nu

f course. He always did. I had been saving up to buy food for the rest of the week, to make sure we

my pocket. I would have to come up with some way to make

full breakfast anyway. I'd stretch whatever I could, but with one single slice of bread

tiny jar and poured the last of the milk into a glass for him. He wo

g his pillow to his chest while another remained on top of his ears. The sight made my l

least if I locked him up in his room, then he would remain

throat to make my voice seem

his bed. "Aurora?" His voice was muffle

et up, honey. It'

't know what was happening outside his door. Maybe it because he knew if he asked, I wouldn

lips trembling a bit, as if h

. But the only thing I knew was that I couldn't break. Not now, not in front of him.

en though there was only a single toast and the milk hardly reached half the glass; and I couldn't help

ing at the otherwise empty table, his lit

re my smile stayed as sincere as possible.

y father hadn't bothered with this time. It wasn't much, but it would have to do. "Here," I sa

softened. "Th

forehead, taking his hand a

ped on my shoes that were

e heading down the cracked stone path to the front yard. The lawn was now filled with weeds and overgrown, a

f my body dragging me down every step of the way. I

s friends by the bus. This part of childhood that was suppos

leave. I lingered at the entrance for just a moment, watching him through

ng settling into my bones. My body ached from the strain of what had happened last night, and my stom

ed through the air, tearing me out of my thoughts. The noise was jarring, unnatural, li

ou stupi

ht in my throat. I stumbled, trying to get out of the way, but my body refused to obey. I felt the ground beneath me shift as my knees buckled. T

hen-s