-4-
After my father's arrest, Mama takes me to the gas station three more times in a single month. I hate it. I cry every time and she pinches me more and more. I earn ugly purple bruises up and down my arms. She's reckless and angry and vicious. When she nearly gets caught on the fourth run, she stops.
When she stops, so does the food.
I cry again as my brothers offer frosty gazes. Our stomachs aching with every passing day. Mama sells our stuff, Daddy's guns, the couch, our table, beds, toys, clothes. We eat on plates on the floor. We do homework on the yellowed linoleum.
You're the only one with powers, and… and Ryu's right! You don't even care!
Next goes the gas. We take cold showers at night, boiling water whenever we can, cold water for dishes, and extra layers so stiff you can hardly move. Ryu's are so tight his ankles show. Our breath swirls in silver, ghost clouds at night. We collect in one bed, me against Kaito, Ryu against Sora. Mama cries in between and nobody says a thing.
Should have been me.
Then goes the power. When our power turns off, I cry nearly every night. I live in constant fear each night will be the one my cracked and broken flashlight dies.
It doesn't.
People come and take us away first.
They wear pressed suits, worried faces, and they take me from my brothers. My mother screams as they hold her back. As they take us. She screams and cries and physically slashes at one's face.
They arrest her too.