Karen's hand flew up and slapped Lucas so quickly it was not visible to the human eye. Her eyes we full of anger. Her son was hurt more than physically. He saw the resentment and anger in her face and thought it was aimed at him. Little did he know that it was aimed at another, his father, Dan Scott? It was Dan's voice his mother had heard uttering those unforgivable words. It was his face that she had seen fit to strike not her sons. It was at he who her hate and resentment was aimed at. The moment the crack of her hand against her son's cheek had passed she was sorry. She watched as Lucas' face, so close to tears already, collapsed. Then, he curled into himself as if to protect his heart, which had just been shattered. He bowed his head and covered the abused cheek, already wet with tears, as if to cover a shameful thing. He wrapped his other arm around his stomach and turned away from his mother, into his room where he slumped against the wall hopelessly.
"Lucas, Luke I'm sorry. I didn't mean it." Karen called desperately after her son. She followed him into his room.
"I'm pretty sure you did, Mom." He said his voiced cracked and tears flowing freely.
"No, I just didn't want this for you." She was no longer angry. Not a trace of resentment still remained in her eyes. Only love and tears. Just with that one look Lucas felt better.