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Father to Son

chinyerevivianPosted for Everyone to comment on, 5 years ago3 min read

Hey, y’all. It’s day seven of #thebeast challenge. I must confess, this is tougher than I thought. I’m not exactly a comment and comment person so this is me pushing myself out of my comfort zone. It’s been good so far and I’m beginning to enjoy myself. I like it, no complaints there haha.

Today , I have a flash fiction to share. Read and don’t forget to leave a comment. Enjoy!


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It hit him immediately he opened the door. The air screamed 'alcohol.' The foul stench of vomit messed with his senses. Without being told, he knew the old man was at it again.

He remembered the day the old man took his first bottle very vividly. His mother's death had been a hard blow for both of them, but the old man took to grieving alone and blocked him out. When the bottle failed to satisfy him, the old man came for him with belts and fists. He was only four the first time.

He took a step from the door and walked into a puddle. Cursing tersely, he headed to the kitchen to get a mop and a bucket. The welts on his back and arms were still raw and they stung like fire. He was getting out, he thought. He was an adult now and he would get out in the morning.

Propped beside the slippery fluid, he smelled the stinky breath before he heard the footsteps.

"Chuma!"

He turned slowly and stared at the man he had called father for twenty years.

"What're you looking at?"

"You promised you wouldn't drink anymore."

"What do you know?"

"I know that I hate you and I'm leaving."

"You ungrateful brat!" The old man hissed.

Eyes flashing, he reached for his belt buckle.

The blow landed on his face before he could raise his hands. The old man staggered and fell, missing the wall by inches. He stared at his son for a very long time, then stood and walked away.

He didn't leave and the old man never hit him again.

This is a story about negligence and abuse. The boy in the story had to live with not just the trauma of a mother’s death, but also the distance and brutality of the father, the one person who should give him so much love and make him forget.

Tell me your thoughts.

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