We stared at her in shocked silence for several minutes. She grew even more nervous as we stared at her.

                “What?” I asked at last. She nodded timidly and played with her braid. “I got really mad one day and I told him that Ben was going to leave him and never come back.” She looked up at him with pleading eyes. “I’m sorry Benny!”

                I looked over and saw just how furious Ben was. He jumped out of bed, winced, and slowly advanced at Jeydyn. “You did that? You told my innocent little son that I was going to abandon him?” he hissed dangerously.

                She began to back up, eyes watering. “I’m sorry Ben!” she cried desperately as he got closer to her. “Ben, calm down,” I warned. “Shut the fuck up!” Ben snapped at me and stepped up to Jeydyn.

                He grabbed her shirt in his fist and pulled her close to his face. “Ben!” I called in surprise. Jeydyn yelped out in shock. “Benny stop!” she sobbed, tears flowing freely now.

                “You little bitch!” Ben screamed. He pulled his fist back. “JJ!” I shrieked before running at Ben. I set Shawn down and grabbed Ben’s fist. “Stop it!” I screamed in terror.

                His fist collided with my face and I stumbled back in shock. He turned his rage back on Jeydyn and slapped her as hard as he could. She sobbed harder as he pulled back his fist again.

                The door burst open and JJ looked around. His eyes widened in horror and he ran and tackled Ben to the ground. Jeydyn went down with them. I ran over and quickly pulled Jeydyn away. I stood in front of her protectively as Ben stood up.

                “Get off me!” he snapped and shoved his father off of him. “Ben calm down!” JJ cried and restrained him as he moved at Jeydyn again.

                “Ben, Shawn is right there!” I cried, pointing at him. Shawn was cowering. Ben’s anger seemed to drain right out of him as he looked at Shawn. “Shawn?” he said softly.

                “You hit my mommy,” he whimpered. Ben moved towards him and Shawn flinched away. I saw the pain in Ben’s eyes. “Oh my god,” he whispered and dropped back on his bed shakily. “What did I just do?”

                Jeydyn was still crying. JJ hurried over to her and knelt down. He wrapped his arms around her and stroked her hair comfortingly. “Are you alright? Did he hurt either of you?” he asked in worry. Ben winced as if the words had caused him physical harm.

                I shook my head. “I’m fine. He slapped Jeydyn pretty hard though,” I said softly. I walked over to Shawn and picked him up. I kissed his forehead. “Daddy and I were just playing Shawn. He didn’t really hurt me,” I lied with a bright smile.

                I didn’t want Shawn to be scared of his dad. Shawn relaxed. “Oh,” he said. I was so happy little kids would believe anything they were told.  

                I looked over at Ben. He was staring at Jeydyn. He got up and carefully moved towards her as she sobbed in JJ’s arms. “Jey, are you okay?” he asked quietly.

                “You lied!” Jeydyn sobbed, looking at me. I didn’t even know what to say to that. “You told me he wasn’t like my mom!” she cried and wrapped her arms around JJ. Ben froze in horror. I knew that was his biggest fear. Becoming like his mom. Lashing out and trying to hurt his family just because he could and just because he was angry.

                “I’m not like her!” Ben cried desperately, panic clear in his voice. “I’m not like mom Jeydyn! You know that!” JJ took a shaky breath and faced Ben. “Ben, you have a problem. The same problem I saw your mom have when you were a baby.”

                Ben shook his head violently. “I’m not like her dad. Please believe me!”

                                                                                ***JJ’s POV***

                “I’m not like her dad! Please believe me!” he begged. I wanted to believe him. I wanted so, so badly to believe him. But he was becoming the same as his mother. I had thought she was such a good person when I had met her. Over time, her temper had begun to show. It’s why I had left the house. To rescue my children from her.

                                                                                ***16 Years Ago***

                “I’m home!” I called and shut the door. My wife, Katie, was screaming in the kitchen. Curiously, I entered and saw her standing over our 2 year old son Benjamin.

                Benjamin had spilled his juice on the floor. “You’re such an idiot Benjamin!” she screamed. “I told you to keep the top on the juice!”

                I walked over to her. “What happened?” I asked. She spun around angrily. “That fucking moron took the top off his sippy cup and spilled it all over the fucking floor!” she snapped.

                “Katie, calm down. He’s 2,” I said softly. She glared. “I told him not to do it JJ.” She spun around and grabbed Benjamin by his arm. She roughly yanked him up and he cried out in pain. My eyes widened in horror.

                “Katie!” I cried. “What?” she snapped. “Don’t hurt him like that!” I said in alarm. She glared and knelt down in front of him. “You’ve been a very bad boy!” she yelled his face. “I’m sorry mommy,” he whimpered.

                She slapped him across the face so hard that even I winced. “Stop it!” I screamed and stepped between them. I picked Benjamin up as he began to cry.

                “Give him to me! I’m not done punishing him!” she shrieked. She had never acted like this before. I knew she hadn’t wanted children. She had wanted to abort Benjamin. But she had never acted like this towards him before.

                There was something wrong with her.

                                                                                ***Now***

                She had been violent. That violence had passed along to Ben. He had shown it in different ways. Getting in fights at school, punching things at home. He had punched a window when he was 6 and gotten stitches in his hand.

                Now it was showing through towards people. I looked at Ali. A bruise was forming on her cheek where Ben must’ve hit her. Jeydyn had a furious red spot on her cheek that would probably turn into a bruise by tomorrow. Benjamin was strong.

                Ben had a terrified look in his eyes. “Dad?” he whispered. I shook my head and stood up. I took Jeydyn’s hand and nodded at Ali to follow me. “I’m sorry Ben,” I said quietly as we opened his bedroom door and began to exit.

                “I don’t believe you.”