"Mommy are you okay?" The small child looked at the brunette with worry
As she was curled up in a ball in the corner of the room caressing her swollen cheek
Tears streaming down her face "of course, I am my strong little boy"
She said warmly spoke opening her arms for him to crashing down on her
Trapping her in a hug the small boy wrapped his
Hands around the woman's frail body, enjoying her embrace
"Mommy can we make a fort again" the little boy whispered smiling at her
"Always" she weakly got up holding the boy's hand
Picking him up and sitting him on the bed
Throwing the covers over both of there heads
And they started playing make-belief soon the sound
Of light, laughter bellowed through the apartment
And for a minute it was warm and kind almost like a real family would be
That is before the front door was slammed close
Making the woman and the small child freeze in fear
He had come home the person the boy feared the most
Because he knew he wasn't strong or big or tough
He was just a scared little boy that's only joy
In the world was his mother's smile and that now in days that was rare
The frail woman hurried out of the bed and locked the door
Running back to her child and cradling him in her arms
And soon the warmth that was once there vanished
And was replaced a horrible coldness
"Where's my dinner, you bitch" the a
Mans voice
Growled his words slurring
Soon the sound of glass breaking and shouting echoed through the building
Making the boy shake in fear soon the man was pounding on the door screaming curse words
Soon the boy broke out crying "shh," the woman whispered, holding the child close
"Don't cry" shouting in the distance, followed by gunshots
"We're going to play the quiet game alright?" she spoke sweetly
Wiping his tears away "you're going to hide under the bed and stay quiet till I come and get you"
She gave him a forced smile and he went under the bed
Finally, the man broke inside the room
aiming a gun to the woman's head
And that's when the boy knew he would never feel the warm embrace of his mother ever again