Author's Note (AN): Listen to the song. I'm not a huge fan of country music but some things can't be helped.

I was twelve years old when my Daddy shot my Mama.

"Meg darlin', turn up the radio." Daddy orders in a voice smooth as silk from the narrow hall leading to our rooms, he just got home from work and is taking off his shoes.

His voice only gets that way when he's about to sing.

A wide smile stretches across my lips as I twist the knob on our battered black radio. Daddy's been so nice lately and now he's gonna sing, I don't question my good fortune.

Mama smiles with me from the kitchen but keeps stirring the noodles that are about done. Tonight she's making spaghetti with garlic bread. I wish there was meat in it, but I know better than to ask for some.

Daddy starts off by humming with the beginning words. For a big man, he sure knows how to sway graceful-like with the music down the tiny hallway. I smile at him from my place at our round table and just watch as he makes his way to mama.

My homework is forgotten as I watch, bouncing in my seat uncontrollably with anticipation.

"-anything I gotta get done, it can get done some other time. Time is love, gotta run. Love to hang out longer but I got someone, who waits-waits for me, and right now she's where I need to be. Time is love..." My Daddy has the best singin voice, he always tells me that he won a bunch of singin competitions when he was younger.

Mama moves quick when daddy touches her waist, her smile gets funny looking when he turns her to face him. She tries to pull away when daddy sways with her, she's looking at the food. Daddy grabs her hands and yanks her to the middle of the kitchen all the while singin and swayin.

I jump up from my seat and grab her spoon to help. My shoulders have a mind of their own and shake to the lyrics.

After mama sees that I have it, she smiles at me and gives daddy her full attention.

Mama isn't a good dancer, so she steps side to side while daddy sways. Her light hair jerks side to side in its pony tail and I almost laugh.

Sudden pain hits my bare arm and I see red tomato sauce there. The sauce is bubbling, so I turn to turn down the heat.

I move to lick the sauce- BANG! BANG!

The stirring spoon pops out of my hand and I turn around to see my mama falling down.

Daddy has a gun pointed at her, I know it's his gun because I've seen it before.

Wide eyed, I don't move a muscle.

He's actually done it.

I watch Daddy's arm lift up and now all I can see is the endless black of the gun barrel. My body locks up tight and pee streams down my leg.

Daddy looks calm.

My legs tense and I push them to move with all my might. Something slick makes me lose my balance, I fall down just as a-BANG!- sounds out again.

In my panic, I scramble and slide.

Daddy's legs are spread in his shooting stance-BANG!- I scream out at the sudden pain in my arm but push through his legs.

The transition from tile to carpet helps with my getaway.

I run to my bedroom to hide, slamming the door with all my might and locking it. I hear him coming down the hallway. 

Panic fuels me when I dive into my closet.

There's a hard thumping at my door that has the marrow of my bones shaking.

Spotting what I'm looking for, I grab mama's backpack and slide it on.

In my haste, I don't notice that the house has become silent.

Until now.

I try to slow my breathing but I can't.

BANG! -he's shot the lock off. If I still had pee, I'd be peeing again. My entire body is tense and my teeth cleanch as hard as they dare.

My door flies open to my daddy's foot hitting it. Since my closet's right next to the door, he don't see me yet.

Just like mama taught me to do if a robber came into my room, I scream bloody murder, grab my pink slugger that's right next to my closet door, and swing like there's no tomorrow.

I hit and keep on hittin, all the while screamin'.

Another BANG!- goes off and I bolt with the slugger firmly in my hand. Mama always said that once it's in hand to never let it go until the police show up.

As quick as can be, I run down the hall straight for the front door and unlock it.

The screen door lock is broken so all I do is push it and then I'm free.

"Meghan!" I hear my daddy bellow as I run to our mailbox.

"Meghan!" I hear again as I round one of the bushes next to the mailbox.

His voice stops me cold. It's the voice he uses when he's really, really mad.

I'm in so much trouble.

I hear him stomping out the front of the house and down the walkway.

'I'm tired of being scared.' I think to myself.

His steps get slower as he looks for me.

'I'm tired of being in trouble.'

I duck down and peek around the bush, Daddy still has the gun. I move back fast, I thought, but he sees me.

My heart races faster with each step closer.

'Enough.' Is all I think when I see him appear.

Out of instinct, I crouch down low and push all the power in my body into my swing. My hands gripping the bat with all their might.

The bat hits Daddy straight in his chest, he falls back but I dont watch him land.

I'm busy running for my life.

Unknown to me at the time, I was twelve years old when I killed my daddy.

Author's Note: The next chapter is a 'Welcome' chapter.