3/14/2018

I looked up from my book. He held her by the arm as she struggled to escape, growling her in her ear, trying to tug her towards his room, telling her she'd be in big trouble if she screamed.

I disagreed. I grabbed a corner of the pillow behind me, my face steaming red.

He looked up at me. "What do you think you're doing? Go sit back—"

WHAP!

You'd have thought I hit him with a bag of rocks from the way he recoiled. But then again, with the force I put into that swing, I might as well have.

I was merciless, just as he had been. I left him on the ground, wondering how one could be beaten so severely by cotton fluff. As she ran into the bathroom and locked the door, I stood over his crumpled form and said, "Leave. Her. Alone."

Then I calmly sat back down and continued reading my book. He clambered to his feet, shoved me over with the most indignant sneer I'd ever seen, then took the pillow and slinked back into his room.