More.

I carefully put the fork in my hand, not wanting to make any sudden movement that might distract his attention away from the baseball game displayed on the television that could be conveniently seen in the next room. Too late.

A tub of butter was suddenly launched from his arsenal. Upon impacting the plate before me, its contents splattered across my face and onto the floor behind me. I had a feeling I'd be cleaning this up later. My mother begrudgingly stood up to grab some sort of rag. The baby cried.

He yelled.
"God damnit she can clean it up. It's her damn fault. Look at the stupid way she is holding the fork".

My mother, knowing where this was going, sat down and stared emptily at her plate. She couldn't even look at me.

Hot tears began streaming silently down my cheeks. Cascading over the two cheekbones and the recesses hidden below them. Finally spilling over my chin and into my lap. I knew this was not my fault, he was not my fault, but I cried anyway. This was a bad idea. Displays of emotion only encourage his antics. My mom would always say in a somber voice, as if she knew what she was saying was ridiculous but had to say something, that after these events, I shouldn't cry, shouldn't react because it only gave him incentive to push further. And he pushed, saying things that should not be said to the fragile minds of teenaged girls.

So I walked away.
And he ran after.

Stumbling on his bad knee.
His spitting words flung at my back as I raced to the doorway.

The night welcomed me and somehow whatever was out there was much easier to face then what was kept behind that door.

He abandoned his pursuit once I was half way down the street.
Disappearing like the girl in the white t-shirt and jeans did everyday.
Where did she always go?

My pace slowed. I walked towards the horizon where the sun was slipping slowly, giving way to the safety of darkness.

The manicured lawns gave way to fields filled with trampled on corn stalks with boundaries outlined only by thick forests. My feet took me closer, my mind took me further.