"Silence is one of the hardest arguments to refute." -Josh Billings
"Grant… don't."
Rose.
Ignoring his sister's plea the twelve year old continued shoving clothes into his ratty backpack, stuffing as much in as he possibly could. He didn't care that his two younger siblings were watching him with tears rolling down their faces; they didn't matter to him. They could cry as much as they wanted to and he still would have not changed his mind.
Showing mercy was as weak as being the beggar. At least that was what dad always said.
Dad.
Grant inhaled sharply as he zipped up his bag and slung it over his shoulder, pushing past Rose's half-hearted attempt to grab his sleeve.
"Don't go… please don't go. We need you!"
Scoffing the boy fiddled with the lock on the window, opening it before making his way to push out the screen.
"You don't need me. You don't even like me."
He pretended not to notice the way his sister slumped to the floor, hugging herself as her hair draped over her like a curtain. It didn't bother him in the slightest as her sobs became louder and harsher causing her body to tremble.
He was stronger than her, he didn't give in to stupid emotions.
The screen fell with a soft thud on the night's dewy grass, lifting his leg up onto the ledge Grant prepared himself to jump when tiny fingers slipped around the belt loops of his ripped jeans.
Joey.
His baby brother with his stained cheeks all puffed stood behind him furiously shaking his head, as if he was trying to convince Grant to stay. The sight of the fresh bandages wrapped tightly across that little throat made his stomach nauseous.
Averting his gaze from Joey, the boy untangled the toddler's hands and without another word escaped to the outside, trying to erase the memories of his family and the droplets that kept dripping off his chin.
It wasn't raining.