In My Shoes

Giving Tuesday

Abel

I was attacked by a drunk family member late at night with a machete. I have 11 stitches on my arm and it is red and swollen. I don’t remember why he was angry this time, seems like he always is.  When they brought me here I didn’t know what to expect.

I am used to doing almost anything to earn a few dollars to help my mom buy what we needed, sometimes I sniffed glue to make the hunger pains and worries go away, but today there is no way for me to dull the physical and emotional pain I bear.

I am angry that I am stuck here.  I am the man of the house, and I am afraid they will not let me go back to my mother and siblings. I worry about what will happen to them without me.