the tears once spilling out of my eyes began to calm down,
as my hands shook from shock.

my eyes becoming calm and sympathetic,
focusing on the darkness of the room.

slowly gliding my hands through the air towards the back of the person in front of me,
a sob came from them,
"h-honey"
they breathlessly spoke, having a sort of emotion in their voice that hurt me.
unwrapping their arms from my shoulders, holding them in their hands.
"i-im s-so sorry sweetheart...
d-did he hurt you before while you were asleep? d-did he- y-yell at you?"
her eyes filled with anger as she grit her teeth, her grip tightening on my shoulders.

the passion from her suddenly triggering something that she'd felt for years.
"i-im done with him...i cant take this anymore"
she whispered,
then putting on a sweet persona after she had noticed the fear that i once wanted.
"i-im sorry sweetheart... for everything... putting you through this, and scaring you..."
she took my shaken hands and warmed them, protecting them from the cold room.
my facial expression calming,
"remember what i told you...? when you were little..."

she said, looking down.
her gaze locked onto my hands,
she then stood, towering over me.
offering a hand to help me, to help me help myself

"i want you to be safe, more than anything sweetheart."
i took her hand, helping myself up.
standing in front of the woman who took care of me.

walking off towards where the box had fallen, picking up with her soft hands.

staying there for a few seconds before walking towards me,

the glow in her eyes filled with content.
she parted her lips before speaking
"i wasn't able to give you your present honey... so i thought now was a good time"
as the moonlight coming from the window lit the color of the ribbon, red as a rose.
her hands carried the box toward mine, gesturing me to open it, i tighten my grip on the ribbon and slowly pull until the ribbon falls off the top of the box, scattered freely on the ground.

my hand resting on top of the box,
before pulling it off, i shut my eyes.
scared of what would come.

it was off, a small thud was heard when it hit the ground,
i open my eyes slightly to reveal what my mother has been wanting to eagerly show me.

a shine from the steel filled my eyes, my mother gestured for me to grab the object.
my hand hovered over it looking for approval in my mothers eyes.

her eyes wide and filled with glee.
"go on sweetheart, it's yours."
her voice was sweet, but it felt like black ink could be oozing from her mouth every word she spoke.

grabbing the wood handle slowly picking it up to examine it carefully.

the steel of the knife shining and small enough to be kept unknown.
i looked up at my mother,
her eyes closed and with a sweet expression.
"i know that you've started cooking... and the knives we have are dull... aren't they..."
she said, while her eyes glittered in the light,
her mouth parted slowly, mouthing words over and over again.
reading her lips over and over.
my eyes filled with fear
i know was all i could see from her.