That childlike voice broke Arian's heart. Just one word. The only word that an almost two-year-old child could say. "Mom."
His father did not even hesitate to grab him by the neck, it was with pure intention to kill.
Then the voice came—low, tight, filled with something sharp and rotten.
"Why were you born?" it asked.
The child flinched. His eyes widened in response. He could barely understand anything, but one thing he understood was that he was in danger.
His father pressed harder and even lifted him off the ground, left to dangle in the air.
The voice continued, hoping each word he uttered would hurt like a dagger to the heart. "Was it just to shame me? Just to take everything precious away?"
The child could not even wail. He was gasping for breath. He did not listen to what this man was saying, nor could he understand it... After all, he was just a child.
He only recently learnt to talk.
Anger. Blame. That was only what he understood.
