Page 14 (1/2)

Prologue

2002

Anger

I never experienced anger before today

I know, it’s a strange ad from a fourteen year old boy, but it’s true I’ve always been the happy-go-lucky kinda kid, keepin’ htly on my face It’s not that my life is all rainbows and sunshine…no, definitely not I smile because of the darkness that surrounds rasp to fade, the darkness will shole I don’t want that Despite the hand I’ve been dealt in life, I find beauty all around h, but most people don’t carry an optimistic outlook like I do

So inside of me broke today We’ll just say the universe tilted sideways, sendin’ my world into a ht – all while spinnin’ at Mach Speed The events that took place weren’t even s like this happen in my day to day quite often

From theof dread blanket over ative happened to forewarn me of any events that could alterI stay hyperaware forover my shoulder for what could possibly happen Eventhe match with Colton Weston that nearly caym class, the day was oddly ordinary So much in fact that by the last class of the day I finally take a deep breath, relaxing into uard down This here is where the events of the day take a doard spiral and that inhibition of dread comes into play

The last bell rang out alertin’ us that our seven hour sentence for the day was up As Ithe bank of lockers tightly, tryin’ to steer clear of the sea of bodies that litter the hall Sweat beads at htly around the straps of my backpack The stench in the hallway in the late afternoon hour is dreadful, thethe sea of bodies I didn’t eat any lunch today and the hunger pangs nearly double et of whiff of body odor Peerin’ through the corner of my eye I see Colton slam his locker shut and my pace quickens in hopes that I can e, steel double doors fro that I have a few extra steps on him

I clear the double doors and pad down four brick steps when suddenly I feel a blunt force to ravel filled paveround and sround, crouching as I raise my body to a full position, but before I can reachfist connects with the left side ofme back on my butt That’s when I first feel it…my face flames and warm blood oozes froht in the center, hoverin’ between on and off in limbo “Frickin’ pussy!” Colton yells in round, I huff out a hard breath and charge at hiht hook, bustin’ his lip and seein’ the bright red flow of blood dribblin’ froround as I struggle to keep control of the fight He’s too strong, while I’m small and weak Pinnin’ ainst my cheek once more and stars litter my vision as my head smacks the concrete Just as he’s about to deliver yet another bone crushing blow he’s pulled off me, but not before he spits blood inof offensive bull

Mrs Tackett helps o see the nurse I can’t afford to ht If she’d have to get up to coet me, she’d be pissed Mrs Tackett assurestomorrow round and hurry to the bus I find an ereen vinyl releasin’ a heavy breath The dread that has lurked behind me all day now fills my bones It’s the worst feelin’ ever and I just can’t shake it After bein’ attacked by Colton twice and bein’ beaten up yet again, I was really hoping I’d shake this feelin’, but it’s gotta hard grasp on me that I just can’t identify I spend the fifteen ure out what I’m missin’, but come up empty handed

When the bus comes to a stop by the tracks at Millers Branch, I jump from my seat and hurry to the exit My face is throbbin’ in pain I kick rocks all the way ho low Colton Weston has picked onas I can remember and I’m ‘bout sick of him Dad used to haul coal for his dad’s company – Dalton Truckin’ He was born with a silver spoon in his led onna push ret it

The closer I get to hoets My htenin’ I’ve never felt this negative and it’s a feelin’ that I hate Suddenly, I hear a very recognizable shrilling voice and the sound stopsthe short distance to my house as fast as I can I rush up the steps and pull the screen door open quickly, runnin’ inside to look forlouder as I approach her With a strength I didn’t know I had, I grab in’ hi her over fro, but hurt badly

Just as Dad stands on wobbly legs, I turn and shove hiainst the wall and put my face in his

“Never again will you touch her” I spit and I can feel the all-consu my everyDad ain’t quite sure what to make of my sudden bravado, so he throws his hands up in defeat and stalks off to the kitchen for another bottle of beer Frickin’ drunk I turn my attention back to Moht in her chest, sobbing aimlessly I sit down beside her frail body and carefully pull her up intoa deep shade of purple and black with se of her nose Her lip is split in two and there’s a small dribble of blood on her chin She winces each time she moves and I’m worried she may have a few broken bones somewhere, but she’s too tore up to tell me where the pain is This is the worst he’s ever beat her Usually she has a fat lip, or a bruised wrist, but he’s never beat her beyond recognition

That switch that was hoverin’ between on and off has switched to ON and it feels like fireworks explode all at once in h me This – this is the moment that I fully experience raw fury This is my breakin’ point I don’t understand violence, I don’t understand the thrill of causing harht now, all I can think of is protect her, shield her

I’m sick of the violence! Colton Weston has always beenme names just because he thinks he’s better than ets off watchin’ me suffer I’er in size But I’iggles

My dad – he’s just an alcoholic There is no excuse for his disease He’s always been a drunk, drownin’ his sorrows in the bottoettin’ worse He’s allowed his alcohol to nurse his injury and the depression he faced when he his coal truck was hit by a train last year When I was little I’d try to protect her when Daddy would slap her around, but he would get even angrier and hurt her worse Eventually I gave up and only comforted her when he would finally pass out

When will the sufferin’ stop?

No er and watch my momma be harmed like this I will not allow anyone to make me feel any lesser of a man than what I am I refuse to I’m only fourteen and as srown th if it’s the last thing I do No woman deserves this

“I’h to protect you One of these days, Momma, I’ll make the pain stop One of these days, I’ll be a hero”

Chapter One

Therapy Session 2

Oneaskin’ le the breath frouess h for her likin’ the first tiist is complete bullshit if you ask me, but after my attorney, James McCoy delivered the Petition for Divorce I flippedend of ical evaluation as part of s he can pull to lessen my sentence, I reckon But I’ll tell you thisI’m not

Quick tempered – sure