Among the Living

Chapter Six

Very carefully I open the box flaps. I peered into the box. What I saw was unexpected. There was just one outfit in the box. The outfit was neatly folded and stacked. I reach in the box and pull out a pair of black DC shoes and set them on the floor next to me. I unfold the black zip-up hoodie. Judging from what I've seen so far, these are definitely mine. The next thing that I take out surprises me and makes me understand why my parents want to throw it away. Just this one I'm surprised at. I was my white wife beater. But it had blood stains on the front of it. At first I forgot how I got them. I wondered did I, Alexander kill someone? But I would never do anything like that. I usually keep to myself. Then it all comes back to me. I never killed anyone.

The day was Tuesday May 20th, 2010 I didn't want to take the bus home. So I walked. My mother always tells Colton and I to walk together. So I waited for him to show up. Five minutes had passed by the time Colton showed up. He had a group of ten-or-so guys with him with about five or eight girls. They all crowded in a circle around me. With just me and Colton in the center. I know it was going to be bad. So I tried to break through the circle but everyone just kept pushing me towards the center. Taunting me and calling me names. But I wouldn't let them get the best of me, and I would absolutely not stoop to their level. I ignored every insult. But some insults I couldn't really ignore. From one side of the circle I heard somebody yell, “reject." Then another, "Outcast" and more insults swarming my head. I got pushed to the ground but I don't know who did it. Then I hear a voice that was unmistakably familiar. It was Colton's.

"Alex, there is something that you should know. Do you want to know why no one around here loves you? Including mom and dad. It's because you're a mistake. You know, you weren't supposed to be born."

Usually when people say things like that to me, I can take it. But this was my brother who said that to me. So I took offense. Usually I wouldn't cry over something so stupid. But I felt the tears swarm up in my eyes. I tried to push them back but the salty liquid trickled down my face. Then I felt a blow to the left side of my face. Then I hear people laughing. I shake my head to try to wake up from this awful dream. But it wasn't a dream. It was my reality. I never in my entire life hated my brother, my own flesh and blood more than I have right now. Another blow.Then another.And another. Punches flying at me left and right continuously. Finally a punch on the bridge of my nose. I hear a c***k and assume that the assailant had broken it. I feel sticky and gooey substance flow down my face and into my mouth. I taste the metallic of my blood on my tongue.

At last the beating had stopped. I take a somewhat deep breath and open up my eyes just enough to see who my assailant was.

It was Colton.