“Fuck you.â€? Joe moved in closer, tightening his grip on the bat. “Fuck you,â€? he screamed through the tears.

Years of abuse streamed through Joe’s mind as he let the bat fly. Years of standing by, doing nothing, watching his dad beat mercilessly on his mom before moving on to him and his brother. Not this time you asshole. The bat produced a hollow thud as it connected with Harold’s skull.

Oh shit. Time slowed down as Joe watched his father collapse at his mother’s feet. He couldn’t hear anything but his own thoughts, screaming at him. Oh shit. Oh shit.

“Daddy!â€? Timmy’s cries broke the silence and turned off the slow-mo. “Daddy!â€? Timmy ran towards Harold’s limp body. Before he could reach his father’s corpse, Susan picked him up and ran him outside, screaming for help.

Joe let the bat fall to the carpet and dropped to his knees. Hands to his face, he cried for thirteen minutes until the ambulance finally arrived.

It was two weeks before Joe’s mom spoke to him again. She never looked at him the same.