Ficlets

It was Anna’s turn to stare in unbelief. “You?”
Jack nodded & it made Anna uncomfortable how he wouldn’t look at her.
”..Why Jack?” She hesitated to ask.
Finally he looked up, still not at Anna though.
“Remember how I said things like Lance…got to my head?”
“Yes,” Anna’s voice sounded small.
“My…father got to my head.”
“What do you mean Jack..” Anna was almost afraid to ask but she knew the curiosity would get to her later.
Jack had had his hand propped on a dusty dresser & now he slammed his fist down on it.
“My father beat me Anna. Every night. Ever since I was six. So when I was 15? I ran away. I had had enough. He couldn’t contain me any longer. So one night, I put something in his drink that probably had him out cold for a good two days. And I ran for it. Never looked back.” Anna had never seen Jack so furious. His eyebrows were practically sewn together, and his jaw tightened as he clenched his teeth together. But then Anna looked at his eyes, and she realized he was trying not to cry.