Born To Be Bold

I hear the rumbling cars go down the road as I look out my cracked window from my two-story home. I hear people advertising for lip injections, and anti-aging medications to make you look younger. I see women selling their bodies on the street just to make a few couple bucks. I take a deep breath in, and walk away.

Ryland and mom are fighting again. Ryland's cursed tongue lashes out on my mom for forgetting our younger brother Mike at school for hours and for Ryland having to pick up him up. Mom's eyes are watering, her alcohol scent washes throughout the apartment.

Dad isn't home yet. It's been four years since I've seen him, and he's missed every birthday party I've had. I walk over to the mantle of the fireplace to grab dad's favorite cd. The cd read, "The Essential" by Aerosmith. I remember him telling me stories about him seeing them in concert and having the time of his life.

Ryland ceases the argument with mom. He comes and sits down by me, watching my every move. "Whatcha looking at kiddo?" That's what dad used to say. I look into my brother's hazel eyes, seeing sadness and worry in them. I give him a content smile and look down. "Nothing. It's just an old cd."