I started to hyperventilate when we reached the broken down door to my house. My mother almost never leaves the house, she doesn't have a job and that's why we live off of food stamps and samples. She's always here, ready to torture me.
"Benny you stay out here. I'll be back in a minute." He nods understandingly and watches as I enter the house.
I hear the TV on but I don't hear her. Odd. I run to my room accidentally knocking over a lamp but not breaking it. It still falls to the floor with a loud crash but there is still no sign of my mother. I continue to my room and shove a few shirts, jeans, underwear, bras, and socks into my nearly empty book bag.
I throw the bag strap over my shoulder and walk slowly to the door. I stop when I look in my mom's bedroom. I scream at the sight. I hear the front door slam open and I run to my mother who is laying in her bed covered in blood. My knees gave way and I dropped to the floor, right next to a pistol covered in blood. I hear foot steps by me and I know Benny is here watching as I break down. I hear clicks and Benny's voice as he talks to 911 but everything seems faded. My mother killed herself, she took a gun and took her life not giving one thought about me or if I need her. My chin wobbled and tears that have been building up filling spilled. I let out sob after sob, then I looked to my right where the gun was. With a shaking hand I picked it up and brought it to my head. My finger on the trigger, one twitch and my brains would be blown out, I would die instantly.
"No!" A shout. From Benny? No, this voice was deeper but I recognize it. From somewhere... In the past maybe. I dropped the gun when I realized.
"Daddy?", I said turning slowly to face him. It was him. My dad was standing there in front of me. His hair was graying and his face looked tired and old, but it was him.
I reached my arms up and he walked to me and cradled me in his arms. My dad was here right now. After 12 years he shows up. For every death there is a life for every loss there is a gain. I squeezed my eyes shut and let the tears fall.
