ꜰᴏʀᴇᴠᴇʀ ʙʀᴏᴋᴇɴ

Lost Memories

I have this one memory from when I was younger. Maybe about 5 years old. So 13 years ago. And it was of me and my brother Carlo playing with sticks covered in mud, and the dirt grinding on our fingers as we waved them around. And we would pretend they were magic wands and picture in our minds there was a evil wizard in front of us, that we had to protect each other from, and only our wands could protect us.
But unfortunately that's not the reason why this memory is stuck in my mind.

Me and my brother were in our own little world having fun. Our eyes filled with joy and we were both smiling. A real smile. Then I watched the pupils in my brother eyes widen with fear. Father was coming. I remember thinking why is he so scared of father, but this was the day I found out why.

Suddenly, father shouted "Carlo get here now it's time" he grabbed my brother by his shirt and threw the stick out of his hand. Staring at Carlo's stick on the ground I decided to pick it up and follow them. I wish I didn't.

Quietly, i followed there every move.  "What was going on?" I thought to myself "why didn't father want me to come?"

There was so many thoughts flooding my mind at such a young age. Carlos should've been able to have fun but father took that away from him constantly, which took my time with my own brother away too.

Carefully walking very far behind them, we made it to a Warehouse that I had never seen before. But when we got inside I was in shock. There were people everywhere, and they were all doing some sort of fighting. Everywhere I looked something violent was happening.  there were people throwing knives at each other, people with guns shooting at one another. It was traumatising when I look back at it all now, but back then I didn't understand.

At this point I was so distracted by everything that was going on around me I had already lost my brother and father. Until my eyes spotted the boxing ring. I squinted at the person that was on the right side of the ring. The boy had curly dark brown hair, tanned skin and a scar on his leg. Just like Carlos and that's when I realised it was Carlos.

I ran as fast as I could to the ring so I could get him out of there. Obviously I wouldn't of been able to as I was only 7 years old and there was 30 year old men all around the ring that could easily just kick me out. But I didn't care it was my job to protect my brother. And at that age you believe you can do anything. So I did.

It seemed like everyone in the warehouse had been waiting for this fight, because everyone just stopped what they were doing and went to the ring. I started to get pushed around. My body was getting shoved from the left to the right. At one point i almost flew across the floor someone pushed me that hard. Why was everyone so excited to see my brother fight? I thought to myself.

I could barely breathe. My legs ached from trying to push my way through what looked like hundreds of men all around me. I just kept thinking of Carlos. But then the the sound of whistle vibrated through my ears. "No!" I shouted and pushed through as hard as I could as everyone started cheering and shouting.

Then, I felt a light tap on my shoulder. I turned my head quickly. It was a tall, muscular man with piercing blue eyes. He looked down at me and said in a deep voice "do you need help?" I nodded. He took my hand and he was taking me towards my father. I shouted "no don't take me to my father please, I need to go to the ring" the man laughed at me, "women don't fight in the boxing ring" I shook my head "I need to save my brother Carlos" trying to explain, he just grabbed my arm and took me to the front row where my father was standing and said "your daughter Aria she wants to go in the ring" he explained to my father laughing.

But at this point I didn't even care. My body was right in front of the boxing ring, if I didn't go now Carlos would be killed I thought. So as soon as the mans grasp on my arm loosened, my legs ran towards my brother but as soon as my fathers hand grabbed my arm I witnessed my brother get punched as hard as I had ever seen in my life in the mouth.

There was blood everywhere.  One of his teeth were hanging out and the guy that he was fighting kept punching him harder and harder and more and more blood was on the floor. I screamed so loud. And then there was a loud thud as his body dropped to the floor. And silence and shock filled the air. He just wanted to have fun and live a normal life. He was such a happy kid when he was with me. And my father took my last moment with him away. And I will never forgive or forget that.