The Storm

The storm is big and deadly as it sweeps across my room, I'm shielded by my brother who's getting beaten with a broom.
He makes no sound, he’s so strong as he takes every hit, if he'd just stayed in his room, he wouldn't have been touched one bit.
He runs to my protection making sure that I am safe, I wish the storm would go away; it's the only thing I hate.

A long time later the storm is gone screeching away in the car, headed off some other place; probably the nearest bar.
My brother's lying in his room curled up on his bed, I look at him and start to cry, bruises, scratches, open wounds covering his head.
His eyes open as he hears my steps and for some reason he smiles, wiping away my tears he says "Don't cry pretty Cinda, hop up here with me and lets’ sleep for a while."

Time goes by, I start to drift completely safe I feel, against my back his beating heart; his arms create my shield.
Hours now and it's full black; we awake to a bang outside, the storm is back and my brother yells "Quickly Cinda, Hide!"
Outside the door we hear the storm come loudly up the stairs, I look up to see my brothers eyes; for my safety he is scared.

He lifts me up in his arms as he drops down to his knees, so softly he places me under his bed praying that the storm won't see.
Just in time he's on his feet as the storm blows through the door, what happened to my brothers feet? I don't see them anymore.

Seconds later I hear a bang on the other side of the room, his body smashes to the ground but I don't see him move.
Tears are pouring down my face as I let out a little squeak, the storm is mad and pulls me out but I can't fight it, I'm too little, too weak.

I feel its grip on both my wrists as it's pulling them apart, my back is hurting and I am screaming, I'm trying to kick but I can't.
My brother's crawling across the floor he's now too weak to stand, his arm is broken, can't move both legs, he's pulling with just one hand.
His face is covered, his shirt is soaked, in a red so dark, so deep, I'm squinting my eyes and I'm screaming out loud, wishing we could just go back to sleep.

I wish it was over I can't take this pain as I'm thrown down to the floor, my brother scrambles to his feet and crouches over my body, trying to protect once more. 
I feel his trembling body on me as it tries its best to protect, his eyes can't focus, he can't move, he can barely lift his head. 

I feel the storm yank him up, and by his leg, pull him down the stairs, he didn't do anything, he doesn't deserve this, his life is so unfair.
As he's getting dragged down the hallway, I'm still crying on the floor, his eyes find mine, he starts to smile, he knows he's kept me safe once more.
His eyelids close, his eyebrows flatten, he's somehow found his peace, his lips move to say "I love you" but I don't hear him speak.

He's being pulled into another room, where the storm will soon unleash, he tries to calm me and attempts to grin, I see his blood stained teeth.
The door slams shut, can't see him anymore, I try to get to my feet, I can't stand up I fall back down and cringe as I hear him scream.

I heard every single thing that went on in the room that night; after the storm had gone away and driven off again, what I saw as I opened that door, gave me the biggest fright.
His arms are twisted, his body mangled lying in a pool of blood, his eye's looking back at me, I couldn't breathe, I said "God, what have I done!" The storm hit my big brother for the second time today, I see the pain of every scratch spread across his face.

He smiles at me and tries to talk but he has no breath left to give, I'm looking at him lying there; this is no way to live.
In the body of a ten year old boy he's forced to be a man, he's starting to fall asleep now, still smiling, as I'm right there holding his hand.