Invisible

The afternoon light whispers
through the open window
as my father,
my sister,
my brother
and I
stand, facing each other.

"Who the hell,"
my father growls,
"broke my fucking pen?"

I shudder,
knowing no one broke it.
It fell from the table.
That's all.

"WHO?"
The roar shatters through
our house of secrets.

"No one,"
my brother says, calmly.
I stare at him,
shocked at his boldness.
But I am the youngest;
maybe when I'm as
old as him I won't be so

shaky.

I see my father's
hands
move,
sliding his belt from his waist.

Snap

My brother runs
and my father chases.
I can hear
every
single
snap.

And I slide to the floor,
knowing the secret's getting
worse.