Storm

Thunder rolled in the distance. He could feel it, though nothing had happened yet. There was always a warning, though sometimes it went unnoticed. Bryce heard the front door slam when his father came home. He knew the type of slam it was–he had heard it many nights before. That’s when he retreated to his room and put in his earbuds. He hoped he hadn’t forgotten anything. Did he take out the trash? Yes, he was sure of it. Feed the dog? Pretty sure. He didn’t leave his LEGO bricks on the floor, did he? Oh, no. That might be it. That might be what gets him. He should just throw away the stupid LEGOS. It would be better than getting beaten again.

He took out his earbuds and could hear his father clanking around in the kitchen. There might be time. He could race into the living room, grab the LEGOS and be back in his room before his father noticed. He quietly opened his bedroom door and made it quickly down the hall to the living room. He swiftly and silently gathered as many LEGOS as his little hands could hold and turned to head back to his room. As soon as he turned around, he saw the shoes first, and then looked up at his father, who was glowering down at him.

Then the lightning struck.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. If you see evidence of domestic violence or if you are the victim of such abuse, please summon the courage to speak up.