tom's dad stumbled forward into the
light illuminating the small doorway.
"what do you think you're doing?"
he reeked of liquor and smoke. the
smells of tom's childhood he'd grown
to despise.
"i was just coming home, father."
"from the police station?"
tom curled his hands into fists. his
father's calmness was very strange
and out of character. if this had
been in their old neighbourhood the
neighbour's would certainly have heard the splintering shatter of glass then a strangled cry of pain. the people in tom's class learned to stop asking about his sudden injuries.
"how. how did you know?"
"know that you and that boy snuck
some of my alcohol to a prohibited area and later illegally snuck out of prison?"
"i can explain-'"
crack.
tom dodged the airborne bottle swiftly but could still feel the shards raining down on his arm.
his dad had fury blazing in his dark eyes. his face slowly
turned red, his breathing shortened.
swung again.
and he didn't miss.
the bottle sailed through the air before shattering on the back of his son's head.
tom fell to the ground, feeling the blood forming then spilling down his neck.
his dad cackled and retreated from the room to probably find more alcohol.
"i don't want you hanging around with him. if you knew any better you'd break things off now. understood?"
tom just groaned in return. if his
mother didn't get home soon then his
injury could be fatal.
the blood trickled down his face like red tears.
"Yes, father."