First Brother Point of View

My therapist said to write

about my pain—

a life-altering event—

then give it a different ending.

I scribble away,

my mind vomits onto the page.

It's about the time my dad

forced me to fight

my own brother,

in front of our little sister.

Her screams and pleas

echo in my mind.

I can't relive that moment.

I want to erase—

but the page stares back

with its blank expression.

I'm lost mid-thought.

Every memory,

a trapdoor.

My biggest failure

is being a brother.

My job is to protect,

and I failed.

Then I left her—

to protect everyone else.

Blood hums in my ears.

And still,

she leans on me.

So maybe

I haven’t failed.

Just give it a different ending,

they said.

I'm ready to begin.