Tristan

I slowly walked into the house, the lights were dim and the fog of cigarette smoke filled the air. I saw my father seated at a single arm chair in the living room.

"Dad" I simply said and he turned to look at me taking a long drag of his cigarette before knocking the ashes off and killing the light.

"Where were you yesterday night?" He asked calmly but it was obviously a calm before the storm and I didn't want to imagine what the storm would be like.

"I-i.. I was hanging out with my friends" I replied but the look on his face showed that he already knew that.

"Where?" He asked standing up and rolling up his sleeves. He picked a golf club that was leaning against his chair. I couldn't lie to him at this point because he obviously knew where I was.

"I went to pick my friends from a club, they were wasted and.." he swung the stick and it hit me square on my face. I fell on the floor and the pain soared throughout my face. I could taste blood in my mouth.

"I'm running for the election and MY son decided that was the best time to hit the club huh?!" He yelled repeatedly hitting me with the golf club. I tried to used my hand to shield my head but the rest of my body took the hits. "What type of son are you? You only think about yourself. Haven't you done enough?!" He said and the hits increased, "Your mother first, now me? You want to ruin all I have left". I choked on my tears, not because of the beating but at the memory.

" Where is she?!" He asked me, tears rolling down his cheeks as held me up by my collar. I shakily pointed at the burning house. He left me and ran towards the house only to be held back by one of the firemen.

" It could've been you instead" he spat before storming upstairs. I laid back down on the ground not even trying to stand up as my body burned.

******
I parked my car in the deserted road, my face throbbed and my body was hurting. I didn't even bother to treat it, what's the use? I limped towards the bridge that was constructed halfway. My eyes were glossy as I sat on the side of the bridge. It was all my fault.. it could've been me instead.

~Korisa.