Secrets

Makoto's Home Life

"Makoto-niisan!" was heard as soon as Makoto walked in the front door. Makoto's siblings ran toward him.

"Hey Ren" Makoto greeted as he ruffled his little brothers hair. He looked over at his little sister to see her pouting at the lack of brotherly affection. "Smile a bit more Ran, theres no need to pout." He said as he ruffled her hair as well.

"Mom and Dad are gone still" Ran said sheepishly.

"What?!" Makoto yelled. He had been gone at Nagisa's friends house for almost 3 and a half hours. He had even told his parents that he would be out for a while. "How long have you been home alone?" He asked trying to calm down.

"3 hours." Ren answered this time.

Normally a pair of kids staying at home for three hours isn't that concerning, but this was a different situation. Makoto's little brother and little sister have severe asthmatic episodes. There was one time where Ran was by herself after Ren had left to go by a friends. Their parents weren't home for a long time. Makoto himself was at swim practice. He was the first one to arrive to the house. He was the first one to find her.

Ran was passed out on the ground with an empty inhaler a few inches away from her almost lifeless body. Her skin was pale and there was a puddle of blood by her head. Her hair was matted down from the blood drying on her head. All along her body you could see her veins clearer than ever. He looked to see her chest barely rising.

Panic surged through his body as he scrambled around for his phone. After calling an ambulance he rushed over to his little sister. He sobbed as he cradled her in his arms and moved his fingers to her wrist to search for a pulse. Some hope had returned to him as he felt the shallow pulse. After a few minutes he could hear the sirens. He carefully got up and carried his little sister out the door.

A group of people rushed to him with a stretcher. They tried to get Makoto to let go of her but he couldn't. He wouldn't let anyone lay a hand on her, he wouldn't let her get hurt more somehow. After more people surrounded Makoto prying him away from his sister, she was put in the ambulance and hooked up to the heart monitor.

He shook as he sat next to her as they were driven to the Emergency Room. Not once did his hand leave hers. He continued to sob and sent out a prayer to every god he could think of.

A few hours later Makoto was sat in her room with his parents. His original panic had faded and was replaced by pure rage. These people, the people who was supposed to protect them, had been gone at a bar somewhere no doubt. They were responsible.

After screaming at his parents, it happened. For the first time ever his father raised his fist and punched his son. That was the start of everything. Now the beatings happened almost daily.

Makoto heard the front door open and close, and was brought back to reality. The faces of all the children dropped as Makoto's father staggered into the kitchen.

"YOU LEFT THEM HERE ALONE?!", Makoto yelled as soon as he processed that his father had returned. "YOU KNOW HOW SEVERE THEIR ASTHMA IS! EVEN AFTER WHAT HAPPENED WITH RAN, YOU LEFT THEM ALONE HERE?!" Makoto knew what was going to happen next, but he didn't care. He wouldn't go unheard.

His father quickly swung at Makoto's face. He dodged and ran towards Ren and Ran.

"I love you", He said to his siblings before he ushered them into the other room and told them to lock the door and climb out the window and run to Haru's house.

"Don't run from me you little bitch!" His father yelled as he ran after him. Makoto went away from the door as soon as he heard the lock click.

His father cornered him and Makoto panicked and did the only thing he could think of. He pushed him. His father stumbled a bit more than normal because of his drinking habits. Makoto had found his opening and ran towards the front door.

He didn't stop running until he reached Haru's door and knocked on it as loud as he could. The door swung open as Ren and Ran hugged him. They both had tear soaked faces and the were shaking still.

"Makoto, what's going on?" Haru demanded.