The Sound of Flesh

The sound of flesh against flesh echoed throughout the store.

The herd blinked sleepily at the noise and peered around, curious. When they
realized what had taken place, they looked away sheepishly, ashamed to have witnessed such an event.

The crowd dispersed, muttering to themselves.

Hot droplets burned against their eyes.

Shame burned in child’s cheeks.
One box of cereal.
One box was all it took.
Mother and father had been fighting just minutes before they came to the store.
Child knew she shouldn’t have asked for her favorite.
She knew she shouldn’t have pushed her luck.
Stupid, stupid, stupid

Mother stared at her hand that had taken action of its own accord.
It brought to her mind the bruises and cuts of the past that had never quite healed.
Her own memories of the many outings and the hurt that followed.
The blows that rained down without mercy or thought and the lack of compassion that followed cut her deeper than her own mother could even imagine and she couldn’t hold it in anymore all hot wetness rushed out of her and she was sobbing sobbing sobbing so hard she’s on the ground and she’s sorry she’s sorry she’s sorry

The small familiar arms, also covered in bruises, embraced her mother, stroked her hair, and told her everything would be okay.