The Sound Of Your Heart

TWELVE

MILES

Friday came, and the classes of all senior levels at Adamson High were canceled for this much-awaited day. Today was the finals for the interscholastic soccer competition, and I was getting ready to watch the game live. As a passionate fan, of Tyler I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement coursing through my veins.

Sitting on the edge of my bed, I carefully tied my shoelaces, preparing for an afternoon filled with shouts of celebration and exhilarating moments. Suddenly, I almost jumped when I heard a loud yell coming from downstairs.

"I hate you two! I hate you!" I heard Jackson's voice echo through the house. I just shook my head and contemplated ignoring the commotion and carrying on with my day.

It had been a while since Jackson returned from his military deployment, and I hadn't found the courage to tell him the truth. I knew deep down that it was only a matter of time before he discovered the horrible secret I had been hiding.

You see, Jackson despised our parents, but his anger was particularly directed towards our father. Dad had lashed out at me when he found out I was gay, subjecting me to physical abuse that nearly ended my life. The pain and fear were still etched in my memories, haunting me every day.

Jackson thought that Mom, on the other hand, was always a silent witness to my suffering. She never raised a finger to protect me, allowing the abuse to continue. I don't understand Jackson's hatred towards her, he just didn't know what we've been through. I tried to talk to him about Mom but he just won't listen.

I wrestled with the idea of confiding in Jackson, torn between wanting justice and preserving our fractured family. I was terrified that if he knew the whole truth, he might fly into a rage and end up hurting our parents beyond repair. Despite the suffering they caused, they were still our parents, flawed and broken.

But now, as their voices grew louder, I couldn't bear the guilt and the weight of the secret any longer. I had to come clean, trusting that Jackson's love for me would guide his actions, no matter how justified his anger was.

Jackson had always been my protector, my hero. Growing up, we were inseparable. We shared secrets and dreams, and nothing could break the bond we had formed. But our lives took a dark turn when our dad revealed his true colors.

I remember the first time Dad laid his hands on me. I was just a scared teenager, cowering under his rage. Jackson was there, his eyes filled with a mixture of anger and helplessness. He tried to intervene, but Dad's fury was unstoppable.

As the beatings became more frequent, I saw the light in Jackson's eyes slowly fade. It broke my heart when he decided to leave home and join the military. He believed that by doing so, he would become strong enough to protect me, to fight back against our abusive father until he screamed for mercy.

But little did Jackson know, things took a turn for the worse after he left. With him gone, Dad's rage intensified. His abuse became more brutal, more relentless. Each day felt like a living nightmare, as the walls of our home closed in on me. And I yearned for Jackson's return.

"How dare you raise your voice at me, you little shit!" My Dad yelled back at him, causing me to stop what I was doing and take a moment to listen to what they were talking about. The words echoed through the walls of our house, filling the space with tension and anger.

"What?! You're going to hurt me too like you did to my brother! Huh?! Let's fight to the death then!" Jackson yelled to our Father, and the next thing I knew, I heard loud thuds, the sound of shattered glasses, and groans.

My heart pounded in my chest as I glanced nervously at the door. My dad and my older brother, Jackson, must be fighting again, and it was all because of me.