Page 103 of Something So Strong

The bathroom light is on casting a medium haze.

His quilt is on the floor.

*Bang*Bang*Bang*

I dash to his bedside.

With eyes wide open, Kai is standing on his bed—back against the wall—his head banging against it.

“Stop it, Josh. You son of a bitch!”

Josh?

Kai’s body straightens like a board. He looks straight at me, but I know he doesn’t see me standing there floundering in the depths of his pain.

I reach out my hand, but quickly retract it.

I know I can’t wake him.

“I told you, fucker. It’s not Jesse’s fault!”

Holy shit!

With nothing supporting him on the uneven mattress, I step closer. Ready to catch him if he falls.

“He didn’t make me this way, Dad!”

Kai spins to face the wall. His palms press against the plasterboard, and his nails scratch against it before flattening again as he draws his head back.

Then I’m on the bed, but I don’t make it in time, and Kai’s forehead cracks against the wall so hard he splits it.

He stumbles.

His shoulder blades hit my chest and my arms link under his.

What the fuck do I do?

I can’t wake him, but his head…

“Jesse? Are you okay?”

His words are softer, almost like he knows I’m here.

“I’m fine, Babe,” I whisper back. Half self-indulgence, half hoping it’ll make the nightmare end.

“I stopped them. I made sure they didn’t do it to you, too.”

“Thank you, Kai.” I kiss the top of his head and make sure he’s settled before I move.

Inching towards the edge of the mattress, I step off—still supporting Kai under his arms. Moving to the head of the bed, I drag his body and rest him on the pillow. “Why don’t you have a rest?”

“Mmm,” he hums. Gentle and sweet like a kitten.

Sitting beside him, I run my fingertips over the reddened mark above his right brow bone. The same side where I gave him a black eye.

I kiss it, and wish I could take even just ten percent of his pain away.

Retrieving his duvet, I lay it over him.

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