THE KIDS AREN'T ALRIGHT: Year 1

1< This kid died inside

"What did you see?" The officer questioned the ten year old boy a distance away from the crime scene.

They sat outside the sturdy place of worship. What was meant to be a safe place. Yet...

He is the only survivor... No parents...Poor kid.

His once white shirt was covered in blood and mud. His trousers were in a similar state.

"Blood...so much...I witnessed the...the shooting...no no. I survived or..." The boy spoke mostly to himself.

It was midday. The sun was out. No clouds in sight. It was probably the hottest day that year. The smell of death was strong even from where the two sat on the grass. It would probably cling to them for a few days. While it clung to his subconscious for even longer if not his whole life.

"Did you see who did it?"

"I...I...no!," stuttering the boy stopped himself from saying anything more. His eyes shifted over every corner of the area. He was skeptical of it all.

"They'll kill me. I cant! I can't!" He stared the officer in the eyes before finally breaking down.

The boy's shoulders shook. He was clearly on the verge of tears. He covered his ears with his palms, pulling his knees to his chest.

The officer furrowed his eyebrows.

The boy could still hear the gunshots. Smell the blood. Feel the dead bodies pressing against him. Tears flowed down his cheeks.

Breathe...breathe.

The officer rubbed the boy's back making him flinch.

Get away from me.