He closed the door before the frying pan could hit him. He rested his back against the heavy wooden door as curses and other kitchen objects flew toward him. He cringed when he scanned the room and his eyes fell upon his little sister.
She sat in the corner of her brightly coloured room, her knees drawn up against her chest and her head hiding behind them. Paul didn't need to see her face to know about the small bruise building on her lip or that her eyes were wet from her silent sobs.
Paul moved quietly through the room and knelt before her.
"You alright?"
A faint nod was his only answer.
Paul sighed, "I'm sorry."
Another nod.
Paul rested on the heels of his foot. "I got something important I have to do. Something really important. It's going to change my life forever….But it's going to take my away from you."
Her little face emerged from the shield of her knees. Paul almost swore at the visible signs of abuse. He forced himself to continue, knowing it was the only way to save himself.
"I got accepted into something good…I'm going to make something of myself, sweetheart. I'm going to go away." He saw the confusion on her face. "This isn't about you, Christina…you know that right?"
Another look mixed with fear was all she gave.
Paul swallowed and kept going, ignoring another scream coming from just outside the door. "I am sorry….but I have to do this." He whispered.
He waited for her to respond, hoping that she would do more then stare at him with those darkly innocent eyes. Hoping she would forgive him for the pain he was forcing on her.
"I have to do this." He repeated firmly, trying to convince himself, his lower lip trembling against tears.
He quickly leaned forward, placed a heavy kiss to her forehead then stood.
"I am sorry," He spared her one last chance, his vision blurry by tears.
He was across the room ,out the door and out of her life before he could say more.
When the door closed, Christina dropped her head back to her knees, and cried her brother's name.