(Hockey BxB) Whistle In The Wind

-𝐗𝐈-

╔══《"'Cause if I say I miss you,》══╗
 I know that you won't."

       The first time Váli was slapped, he was four. That day, he had gone to preschool like any other. In class, the students had been assigned to draw family portraits. On Váli' sheet of white construction paper, were four poorly drawn stick figures.

       In the center was a tall man, with a scribble of hair and a smiley face. Next to the man was a slightly shorter woman. She wore a triangle for a dress, and had straight, short hair. On her face, Váli had drawn a neutral expression. She was neither smiling nor frowning.

       On the outside, Vál drew two small kids. The one next to his dad was him. He had a big smile on his face, and he was drawn in light blue crayon. Next to his mother was Aksel. He was drawn in orange crayon, and he holding his mothers makeshift hand.

       Above them, he had drawn a big sun and a rainbow. It was a happy family portrait.

       When Váli had gotten home that day from preschool, he raced inside holding the paper to his chest. Smiling huge, he anticipated showing his family. They'll love the picture! He cheered to himself. Laughing and skipping, he ran past the kitchen and headed for his mothers office.

       The door was big and scary, and in any other circumstance Váli avoided it. The number of times the small child had been in the room could be counted on one hand. However, Váli didn't hesitate this day. Overflowing with excitement, he reached to grab the handle, and opened the heavy door with a weak pull.

       Too distracted with his racing thoughts, Váli didn't register voices behind the door until he was sprinting in the room. Inside, his mother sat against her desk. Her phone was held at her ear, and her other hand was gripping her forehead.

       She was mad, visibly. Sweat shone on her glossy skin, and the sleeves of her baby blue button up were crinkled by her elbows. Her flats were kicked off, and her hair was tied back. At that moment, Váli was like a plump rabbit that had hopped willingly into a hungry lion's den.

       In a rage, Váli's mother whipped around to see who dared to interrupt her business call. Looking down, her beady eyes met Vál's innocent ones.

       By now, he was gripping the paper so hard the edges were crinkled. Standing in the middle of the room, Váli felt as crumpled as his stick figure on the sheet  was. His stomach churned, and his eyes went dry.

       Despite his fear, Váli held the paper up with shaky hands, showing his mother his masterpiece. Angered, she ripped the paper harshly from his weak hands. Not taking a second to glance at the artwork, she crumpled it up and threw it aggressively back at her son. The wad of paper hit Váli square in the chest.

       The ball hit Váli with enough force to cause him to stumble back, his frail body not prepared for the throw. In the blink of an eye, his mother had slammed her phone on the desk, stood up straight and walked right up to Vál. Before he could even take his eyes off the floor, Váli's head was whipped around. In a single moment, his gaze went from the floor in front of him, to black, to the far wall on his right.

       A ringing in his ear came after, following the thwack of skin on skin. Immediately, Váli began to tremble. Tears welled up in his bleary eyes, but he didn't dare turn his head to look at his mother. All at once, all five senses overwhelmed Vál. He was confused.

       The loud ringing continued to get louder and louder, the room began to wiggle and distort, the iron taste of blood filled his mouth, the smell of cigarette smoke invaded his nostrils, and in the next moment--