Sniffling, tears now rolling down my face, I held up Growls and planted a few kisses on his worn nose. My face was flush and my heart was racing. I felt foolish and absolutely terrified, Tommy’s hand like a vice grip on the back of my head, urging me on.
“Lick him a little,” Tommy whispered in my ear.
I suddenly jerked my head away and threw Growls across the room, openly sobbing now, “I don’t love him! I hate him! I HATE HIM!”
I covered my face, ashamed, hands shaking. I pulled myself into a ball and lay there, sobbing. I felt Tommy get up next to me and turn to my mother.
“It sounds like he’s learned his last lesson. I’d be proud of him if I were you. He’s a man now.”
I looked up at him through tear soaked eyes.
His eyes sparkled, “It took five years…” He suddenly leaned down and cupped his mouth over my ear.
His voice was cold glass, his breath like hot fire, “Your little ones will get five years as well, Spence.”
And with that, he looked at my mother one last time and then walked out the door.
My mother rushed me and took me in her arms, comforting me as I cried.
Tommy never returned to our home.
Time passed and I grew up…I grew up always expecting Tommy to show up again, come barging through our front door. But he never did. The years faded and some of the horror and pain began to fade as well.
We were never the same though.
