Married To My Bully by Sakshi C (comprehension books txt) 📕

CRYSTAL

I froze.

All thoughts flew out of my head just one thing echoing, "Sexually abused." Alex was sexually abused.

I didn't turn around nor did I say anything as I was too lost processing what I just heard. 

It was too much. 

I heard dad's footfall echoing behind me. 

"He is not a murderer. He is a survivor," he said. I turned around and saw the pain etched on dad's face. Hew was looking at me, gauging my reaction.

"What are you saying?" I whispered still not being able to comprehend. 

His tongue flicked out to rolll over his dry lips. 

"His father was a drug addict. The man was a monster. He used to beat them a lot. Debbie and Alex both. Every day. The man's addiction had reached the point that he didn't flinch..." he went silent for a moment if contemplating he should speak or not. I had never felt this curious before. "that he didn't flinch away from selling his own wife and child for drugs," I gasped in horror.

He squeezed his eyes shut as of every word was giving him immense pain. 

"He sold Alex to his pedophile dealers in exchange for drugs. Alex was only eight when...when it all started," his voice had taken a dark tone and shook at the end. I could feel his anguish. I could feel Alex's pain. 

The word monster doesn't even do it. How could a father do this to his own child?   

I didn't even realize when tears started to run down my eyes as my heart bled for him. It felt as if someone had ripped my beating heart out and stomped over it again and again. It felt as if the fire was running in my veins in place of blood.

"He was eight....my boy when that monster sold him to one of his moneylenders. It went on for four years. Alex was sold like an object from one hand to the other just like his mother until that day. Alex ran away from one of the monsters that had bought him from his bastard father. Fred didn't get the money and so he started thrashing Alex. He would have killed him that day.

FLASHBACK

You bastard. I should have killed you the day you were born. Bloody Asshole." Fred spat while squeezing Alex's neck with a lot more pressure. Alex, who was just twelve years old then, had his face turned red.

"I am gonna fix that mistake now. Ungrateful sons like you don't deserve to live," he clawed at his father's hand with utter desperation but the man wasn't having any of it. He tightened his grip even more. Alex had started to lose his consciousness. His other hand started searching the table he was pinned against for anything that could come in handy. 

After a little fumbling, he felt a metallic object. He knew what was that. And he knew how to use it. So in order to save his own life, he grabbed the object, closed his eyes, and shot point-blank at his father. A terrifying noise ripped through the air and crimson blood splattered all over his face. Alex would have called backward by the impact if not for his father's grip on his neck. He opened his eyes and found blood gushing down his father's forehead. He saw the light disappearing from his eyes. 

A cold fear gripped him as his father loosened his hold over him. He didn't mean to kill him. Sweat broke all over his tiny body as his eyes fell down on his hand that had a gun in it. Tears pooled in his eyes as he shoved at his father's lifeless body that dropped on the floor like a sack of potatoes.

What had he done? he started shaking in terror. He had killed his own father. The gun dropped on the floor with a sharp thud.  His knees were knocking in terror and his body had turned cold. Not able to support his own weight, he slumped down to the floor and hid his face between his knees. His entire form was shaking as tears smudged the tiny drops of blood over his fear-stricken face. Fred's body sprawled a few inches away from him. 

The boy had tucked himself into a corner and was sobbing uncontrollably. He was terrified. Very terrified. 

The boy kept crying until he felt a hand on his shoulder. Panic washed over him once again. With small hiccups, he looked up with his wide grey eyes and met with a pair of aghast green eyes. A new set of tears invaded his eyes when he saw Mr, Knight leaning over him.

Mr. Knight crouched down and took him in his arms. Panic was visible on his face too. But he knew he had to hold it together for this unfortunate kid who was literally shaking like a leaf.

"I am sorry...I am sorry," the boy kept chanting in a cracked voice as he hid himself into his shirt. He didn't want to go to jail. Who would take care of his mother then? Who would hug her when she will cry? He didn't want to go to jail.

"Sshhh.....I am here..Don't be afraid" Mr. Knight caressed his head and shot a disgusted look at the lifeless body on the floor.

FLASHBACK ENDS

" Debbie doesn't know about this. We haven't told her. What she told you is what she knows," Mr. Knight explained to me. 

I felt as though someone had sucked out my strength. My hands reached out for something to hold as I felt I was going to collapse at the ground any moment. Dad held my flailing hand and brought me to the sofa. My heart was hurting so much that I thought it would fail. My surrounding had burned into nothingness and all I remembered was him. My heart squeezed painfully as I pictured him as a child being abused and used again and again for his father's selfishness. How could anyone do this? To a child. 

"He killed because he had to kill. My boy is no ta murderer. He is a victim," A drop of tear fell down his eyes as he defended his child.  

I was completely wrecked by a piece of information. Totally devastated. I nodded at him, agreeing to his every word. His father was a beast. And killing a beast can't be called a crime. Mr. Knight was right, Alex was a surviver.

His tough exterior was a shield that he had made for himself. Maybe that's why he didn't let anyone near him. He was still reeling. Still recovering. I felt an unadulterated rage towards god. How did he let this happen? Why didn't he save him?