You would think a kid in a violent home would be immune to fighting , but I wasn ’ t . My mom and Gary were shouting , screaming , and I was terrified . It seemed to have come out of nowhere , and now it wouldn ’ t stop . I thought maybe I could slip out back where it was quiet , but when I went to go downstairs , they were on the landing . I stood frozen , as Gary cocked a fist and slammed it into my mom ’ s face . He didn ’ t stop there . He followed her as she tumbled down the last few steps , and pounced on her like a starved cheetah . I didn ’ t stay to watch the rest .
When I got back to my window , there were two girls cutting through our yard . I pulled my window open and shoved my head out . “ Hey ! Go call the cops ! My dad is killing my mom !” Even screaming it , I remember my heart racing , one eye on the door in case he barged through .
The rest of that night is a blur . The cops came quickly , I held Amanda in the cool grass of our yard while they took statements . The neighbors gathered in their back doorways to watch , and finally my mom settled next to me , sobbing , as they bent Gary over the cable box . I laced my fingers through hers while they cuffed him , and when she reached out her hand for him and screamed his name , I held on and wished I could be enough .
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