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The Ending
Alex was only seven but savvy enough to glean the information from the computer when his parents weren’t home.
It was simple enough.
He found the gun in the bottom drawer of his father’s dresser; the one where he kept the magazines of naked women. It was heavy, but he found that if he used both hands, he could hold it almost steady. It was a revolver, so he knew there wasn’t a safety button or anything to worry about. All you had to do was pull the trigger and the bullet would come out.
Pretty simple, even for a seven year old.
His room was dark, the way he liked it. He never wanted to see the things that happened there. The only light crept from under the door; a narrow slit that only had the strength to make its way a foot into the darkness.
As the door handle turned, Alex slid his small body back against the wall as far as he could. His pajamas were soaked in sweat and his face ran with tears that wouldn’t stop. He couldn’t let this happen anymore. Even though his father said he loved him, he hurt him. Even though his father said it was a way of showing love, it hurt him.
He didn’t want to hurt anymore; ever.
The door opened and closed with little sound.
“Alex?”
The voice was soft and warm and gave no hint of the terror and disgust it would unleash.
“Alex, where are you?”
I have to end this, Alex thought. I can’t let this happen anymore. It’s partly my fault because I let it happen.
“Oh, there you are. Why are you sitting on the floor?”
Silence
“Alex, what have you got?”
Still silence.
“No!”
Alex pulled the trigger and the gun bucked in his hand and fell to the floor. He heard his father scream but it was too late. It didn’t matter anymore.
He was beyond hearing.
There would be no more pain.
Ever.
He was free.
Michael Williams is a retired Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer currently living part
time in the Bahamas. He has a certificate in creative writing from the London School of Journalism, and has had work
accepted and published by The Lakeview Review, as well as being the recipient of the 2004 Cecelia Lamont Literary Award.
Email: Michael Williams
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