Still We Rise

1:Glass Shards

Song: Train Wreck -James Arthur

They broke the wrong parts of me. They broke my wings and forgot I had claws
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Kenzie's POV:

Everyone loves going home after a long day. However, that is not my case. 'Home' is the place I dread the most. Everyday is a living nightmare that I cannot wait to escape. Thankfully, I have my younger brother and mom by my side. Even though what we live through is horrific, and hell.

"Are you ready to go buddy?" I ask my younger brother. He nods, and it's clear in his eyes that he's as excited as I am. Please pick up on my dry sarcasm.

"I'm sick of going to the house Kenzie. I hate it there. We always have to stay in the room." He tells me, and my heart shatters.

"I know Kinsler. Soon though, I promise we will be out of there. Mom and I have a plan." I tell him, even though we don't have a plan.

We get into my old beat up car, and head to the house of horror. When we pull up, I see that mom is home which is new. Usually she is home hours after Kinsler and I get out of school.

"Come on Kins, stay close, and don't make any sounds." I tell my younger brother, he nods, and gets out of the car.

As we near the door, we can hear them already. "No, you stupid bitch! Do you ever fucking listen?!" My father yells at my mom, loud enough to hear from the driveway where my car is currently parked.

"Jarred, please! The kids are going to be here soon! Can't you wait until later?" She begs him. It's always the same thing between them. He's never happy and she continues to try and make him happy.

He scoffs, "The kids? It's always about the fucking kids! I don't even fucking want them here. You wanted them." He yells. It's not lost on us that he doesn't want us, but there was a time he did. A time when he was the best dad in the world. But like everything, it came crashing down.

Kinsler grips my leg, and a pang of guilt and hurt shoots through my heart. I hate that my five year old brother has to deal with this shit. We walk into the house of hell, and I push Kinsler towards my room.

Once we are in my room, I look at him. "Stay here, okay? I'll come get you after they calm down. Lock the door, and put the headphones on." I tell him, and he nods. "I love you." I tell him, walking out of the room. I stand at the door to make sure he locks it. When I am sure he locked it, I head back into the room where my parents are fighting. "What the hell is going on now?" I ask, and they both look at me. My mom looks relieved, while my dad looks like he could murder me. I wouldn't put it past him to try.

"It's not your business. Go away before you regret it!" He yells, and I roll my eyes, fighting back a laugh. We both know that no matter what he says or does, I'm not leaving my mom alone with him. His beatings have become weak since he is drunk all the time, and he doesn't ever use anything as a weapon or anything to hurt me. It's always his hands and feet, not that I am really complaining about it.

"It is my business when you are causing a scene that can be heard from the end of the fucking driveway. One day the cops are going to get called, and I hope they take your lowlife ass to jail!" I tell him. He glares at me, with a look that says 'I will kill you' a look I've grown used to receiving. While he is laser focused on me, I glance at my mom, and silently plead for her to go to my room. She is hesitant, as usual, but slowly starts moving that way, while Jarred's glare is fully on me.

She knows that she can't argue with me on this. I refuse to let her get touched by this man, if you can call him that. She does too much to get hurt, and I can't risk anything major happening to her.