It was raining for the entire day. Thunder rumbled in the distance, and street lights turned on early.

She didn't come to school at all that day.

But that afternoon, I saw her with that man next to the black car parked in her driveway.

There was hardly any rain on the windows on my side of the bus because of the angle the rain poured down.

The argument they looked to be having seemed heated. I could see pure rage in her brother's eyes. And when I saw the girl's own eyes, they weren't filled with anger. They were filled with fear; an emotion I can too easily recognise.

The rain pattered down hard, making it muddy everywhere and painting the streets a dark, dark grey.

The man grabbed her by her arms and shoved her against the car. I saw her wince in pain, and her hair clung to her wet cheeks.

He raised one of his arms and brought it down hard against the side of her face. The slap would have brought her down to her knees if she wasn't being pressed to the car by his other arm. I could see drops of rain on her cheeks, and a visible handprint already forming on her face.

But it wasn't just drops of rain running down her face.

"Please. Stop!" I read from her mouth movements as she was looking up at the man.

I couldn't hear anything from over the rain and all the way down the hill. Nobody else was able to see it happen.

He didn't stop. Instead, he brought his knee up to her stomach, and she let out another cry.

I could feel the pain in my own gut, losing breath of air as I saw her fall to the ground on her knees, using her hands as supports from completely collapsing to the ground. I could feel her fear spreading from my wounds to my heart. Dark mud got everywhere, staining her clothes, staining her skin, staining her hair, staining the man.

I shut my eyes, resting my head against the seat in front of mine. Breathing in and out before my panic attack could get really bad again. Mark didn't notice. I wish he had. He was just listening to his music.

Her brother grabbed her by her strands of hair, and I could almost hear the sound of pain that escaped her lips. He leaned down to her ear, sneered something, and pushed her down to the ground as he forcibly let go of her.

He walked away, towards the house, leaving her lying on the ground, almost completely soaked and covered in mud, crying.

I hated feeling helpless. I hated feeling guilty. I hated the fact that I had to look away. I hated breaking my promise.

Once the bus started to move again, I looked back at her. I saw her raise her head, and I saw her look down at the bus.

I saw her look at me.

I was the guy that noticed everyone.

And the guy who never did anything.

And she saw me do nothing but watch.  

~*~

Song: Alessia Cara - River of Tears

Thanks, lovelies,
Nuela <3