Page 11 of Yours on the Canvas

He tilts his head, studying me, waiting for guilt to take root -waiting for me to fold the way I used to. His smile he gives me is small and poisonous, like he’s proud of what he’s done to me.

But all I feel is the cold truth of it. He isn’t here because he cares, or because we’re family. He’s here because he lost something he thinks he still owns.

My uncle presses down harder, pulling another scream from my throat.

“Stop.” The word scrapes out of me, broken, “Please.”

A cough tears through my chest, and blood slips down my cheek, warm against the cold night air.

I look at my father, desperate for something from him, even just a small flicker of concern, a sign he still sees me as his son. But he just stares, that same cold, blank stare he’s worn my whole life.

He watches as his brother leans over me, dripping with contempt, treating me like I’m nothing. He doesn’t make a move to stop him, doesn’t speak. He just holds my gaze for a long moment. Then he steps back, shaking his head like I’m the one who’s disappointed him. Like I’m the one who’s ruined everything.

Dad crouches beside me, his shadow falling across my face. He doesn’t touch me; he hasn’t put a gentle hand on me ever. He just looks at me the way he always has, like I’m a problem he’s tired of dealing with.

Beside him, Uncle Ray smiles, because he knows exactly what the silence means.

I’m alone, even with the both of them standing over me.

“Do you know what hurts the most?” Ray asks quietly.

I don’t answer, I can’t. The pain in my chest makes it impossible to breathe, let alone speak. Every inhale feels like someone is driving a fist straight through my ribs.

“I actually believed you were loyal.” He sneers the words like filth.

His voice cuts deeper than the bruises. Loyalty, that’s what he always wanted. Blind obedience dressed up as family.

I try to swallow, but my throat is too tight, too raw. My chest burns, and the world tilts again, threatening to pull me under.

Ray watches me struggle, and I can see he’s enjoying it. They’ve always enjoyed seeing me broken.

“I thought, out of all of them, you’d stay.” Ray’s voice curls with disgust. “But you proved you’re just another selfish little dog.”

I close my eyes, his words landing exactly where he wants them to.

“Everything I’ve lost.” He continues, leaning down closer, “Every dollar, every consequence. It all started the day you walked out that door.”

A fresh wave of agony moves through my chest, as the mud beneath me feels colder. Ray’s words wrap around my throat like the leash he thinks he still owns.

My father stands silent– like a sentry behind him, the muscle, the enforcer, the shadow who never speaks unless Ray tells him to.

Ray’s voice drops lower, almost gentle.

“You should have stayed where you belonged.” He smiles gently, his finger tracing the blood from my mouth. “You shouldn’t have left, Jack.” His voice full of venom. “You were supposed to stay.”

His lip curls.

“You chose to leave. You chose to abandon us.”

I open my eyes and stare at him.

“Everything that happened after that?” His expression twists into something almost resembling a smile. “That’s on you. Not me.”

He holds my gaze for another beat, letting the words settle between us.

Then he looks at his brother, he doesn’t say anything else, just simply stands, turns and walks away.

Dad remains behind, and I watch as he steps up to me. Leaning over, his shadow blocking the stars above, I watch through the sliver of eyesight I still have. I feel hot spit land on my cheek, and feel it run a hot trail down into my hair.