Sorry ma'am...

It was one of those things I'll never forget. An event so vivid I'm not sure if it is possible to forget.

My parents were going at it as usual. By going at it, I mean they had some kind of disagreement and my father took it to a physical level. I don't know if anyone really knew how these things started or how quickly they could escalate but I know how this one ended.

This particular fight was louder than most. I think it was more menacing when he kept a low growl to his voice but that day he didn't. This argument was more vicious than most. Mom was bleeding, a crimson flow coming from her nose and smeared on her clothes. Her eyes were bruised black and purple with a tinge of blue and green. A knock sounded at the front door. Mom wiped at her face as she answered the door. Standing there were two uniformed policemen. They said, "Ma'am are you okay?" She started to cry with relief and shook her head no. They asked if she would like a ride to safety. She asked them to wait and gathered us together as my father hid in the bathroom from the authorities who stood waiting at the door. She emerged with us in tow and the policeman said, "Sorry Ma'am this is a domestic dispute. We can't take the children from the home." I thought for a second I had heard wrong but they turned and walked to their patrol car alone. Only seconds before I thought we were all safe. I thought something magical would happen once the policemen saved us. I was wrong.

That was the day I lost hope. I believe that was the day I started to draw in my book. That was the day I understood I had nobody to turn to.