PROLOGUE 2

CALLUM WOODS POV

Grabbing my guitar and music journal, I left my usual spot and headed home. My thoughts kept going back to last night when I heard Mama crying. I had never seen her cry before and that made me scared. If anything, I was scared of what was going to happen if I knew what made her cry.

Here I was, in front of my small home, fidgeting with my fingers, and thinking if I was to open the door or not. Papa's car was parked in front of the house so that meant he was at home. The fear in me kept rising when I heard her scream in pain.

"Please aaahhh!" I barged in quickly to see him with a bottle of scotch in his left hand and the other pinning my Mama against the wall, strangling her. A repitition of almost everyday but I still won't let him succeed. Even if it meant getting a scar from him.

"Who's gonna get me cigarettes and scotches? And who's gonna pay the bills if you're sick huh?" He asked my Mama and I frowned as I reached for the hockey stick hidden behind the door. He never cared, never.

I got really angry when I noticed blood drooling from her lips and I whacked his back with shaky hands and the bottle crashed. Mama slid down the wall in a loud thud and he faced me,a cigar hanging on his lips. Thought that would do some damage but clearly, my weak hands didn't help this time around. At least I had broken the alcohol. Sober him was better than drunk him.

"Wrong move Callum, you should have known better than that boy. Guess I'll have to punish you," he muttered and held my neck. I knew not to utter a single sound but I couldn't help the small whimpers that left my lips. After all these years I have not gotten used to the pain.

I screamed bloody murder as he pressed the hot cigarette on my neck. The souring pain went like a shiver than my spine and my toes curled in my shoes. The smell of my skin burning made tears to fill my eyes and I shook my head.

Be bold Callum. He isn't worth your tears.

"Listen here son," Papa snarled taking it off and the cool air on the dry burn made me want to hiss out in pain but now, he needed to hear a piece of my mind.

"No you listen, you can go around treating me like crap like you always do but you have no right to touch my mama!" I yelled at him and he raised an eyebrow at me, clearly not happy with what I said but I cared less. He taught me not to care like he did.

"Callum please," my Mama pleaded weakly still on the floor but I ignored her and continued to glare at my father through my blurred vision.

"I refuse to let him get away with this!" I screamed at him, still aware of the burn on my neck that hurt. "I can't stand being near you, Mama can't stand being near you." I cried out.

"You're stuck with me you worthless brat," he reminded me, planting the cigar back on the same spot and I cried out, not being able to hold in the pain any longer.

"Go to hell." I choked out, the words barely audible over the buzzing pain on my neck. He pulled out the cigarette from my skin and brought up his fist, connecting it with my left eye. I screamed out in pain momentarily and placed my hand over my bruised eye, glaring at him while he stumbled back over to his chair. Pain struck like lightning in my head and I had to stay strong to stop myself from falling.

I gave Mama a hand to get up and let her drag me to the kitchen as she gave me an ice pack for the eyes and tended to the burn.

"What happened?" I asked her.

"The usual, he asked for money and I refused to give him," she said, avoiding my piercing gaze which was unusual. She would normally place her delicate soft hands on my cheek and stare directly into my eyes. She would ruffle my red hair and whisper to me it was alright.

"Why can't we report him to the cops?" I whined, glaring at her subconsciously  It was partly her fault we were still in this condition. She should have left him long ago. Money wasn't the issue since she was the one feeding Papa.

"Callum please, you know I love your father very much, he's going through a tough phase right now okay, he needs us in his life. And remember I agreed to our marital vows, till death do us apart," she whispered the last sentence and I frowned, letting it slide for now. I was so damn tired of convincing my Mama against him and there was no way I would leave her here. One day I promise I'll get her out of this mess.

"I'm so sorry you ended up in this mess," she croaked out and I knew something else was wrong. The mother I knew was stronger than this.

"Mama tell me what's happening," I pleaded and she sniffled, holding the wooden counter to support her shaking form.

"I went to the clinic today to check up my health status and a-a-nd I w-w-as told I have blood cancer. That's why your father was so mad. He's filing a divorce, he's been seeing another woman. I have no money, nothing useful to sell. I got fired from the diner and now I'm sick," she balled her eyes out and I hugged her, letting my tears flow in hatred for dad.

He was going to pay for everything he did. I'll make sure mama gets through this even if it means working illegally.

"I'll get you out of this, I promise." I whispered.

I was sad when writing this too 😔😔

Don't you all think his mother is a fool?

I need answers and your reasons too.

Let's make this fun

I love you all ❤️😘