Origins-Dusty

“Wretched child!” Dusty flinched at the sound of the shattering bowl. Its pieces scattered against the wall. He covered his face and torso with his arms, waiting for the sharp stinging sensations he was long used to. Much to his surprise, the pain never came, nor were there anymore shouts of hatred.

“Stupid…” He tentatively glanced up, his mother fast asleep while standing. Even from the several feet distance between the two, he could still smell the rancid stench of alcohol heavy from her breath. Her hiccups gargled with spit.

His attention then turned to the broken bowl that earlier held his mother’s dinner. A small sigh left him, though he was unsure how to feel. The dish for once was empty, meaning she ate it all. He felt insulted.

Once again she broke another one of the few they had, adding it's shards to many others on the rust-color floor boards. At least he didn't have clean up food this time. She even missed hitting him, which was a rare occurrence.