My brother told me to hide
Under the table when
He’s upset.

I do. I hide
Under the table.

The small space
Under the table
Is our only sanctuary.
In here, we are both
Safe.

“They’re giving you
Trouble again?” he asks.
I do not reply.
I do not have to.
He is only a figment of
My imagination.

Clash.
Then a scream.

“Why did you ****
Yourself?” I ask.
My brother does not reply.
He only stares,
with a gentle smile on his lips.

I wish to rip that beautiful smile off his face.

A scream.
Then a clatter;
Like of glass pieces shattering all over the floor.

The yelling intensifies.
I can hear my mother screaming,
Crying.
My father curses,
Raging with fury.
He is knocking off every pieces of furniture in our
House.

I look around,
but my brother is gone.

So I hide
Just like he told me,
Under the table.