• My mother once cradled me in her arms when the sky was dusk and the air was bitter. Taking her two first long fingers, she softly rubbed them on my plump pinked cheeks. The black dirt from her hands smeared on my hot soggy face. The dirt clung to me like leeches to a small pond turtle. Shrieks still ran off my lungs and into the night. The rude awakening of brittle air triggered the fear of the new world that laid before me. She knew it was a cruel place; the world was a cruel place that little parasites infected with their will from God. The parasites went by the name of the human race. A population of billions of people who breathed and who hissed. Each has it's own purpose to pursue and it's own mind to think. She never told me that the world would be cruel. She didn't have to tell me. It was already sunk into my head from the day I left her womb that the world would forever be cold and hostile.

    She quickly lifted the thin cloth over my head and embraced me deep into her chest. Slightly swaying me back and forth with low hushes that barely lifted from her cherry red bitten lips. Snow fell heavenly around us with candle light stains on the left side of her slender face. She was a pretty women none the least but a pretty women was to be taken advantaged of without much morals. On the other side of her face where no light was given, a burn mark imprinted in her face. A symbol of ownership. Once the dead started to walk the streets, man's testosterone took the first leap on control. Women simply could of never survived on their own once hunting season took place they said. They must be kept safe by man. Democracy soon crumpled into non existing dust and a new system was soon to be created. A system that was ruled by man and the blessings of God.

    The door swung open as swift wind blew in from behind the figure in the door way. He quickly shut the door behind him and hung his scarf and coat up on a hook next to the door. His face was rough with scruff. His eyes looked weary and dead. A permanent frown stuck his blunt face. Mother and his eyes met and she quickly set my body into a small wooden crib.

    Dinner is cooling off on the counter, sweetie. She said with the best grin she could afford. Good. he said emotionless. He slowly approached over the cradle and peered his head over my loud cries.
    You can't calm him? He asked annoyed.
    I've been trying for hours. He doesn't like the cold. She said.
    The man nodded and grabbed a wool blanket from the closet and placed it over the baby then proceeded to devour his warm meal.
    I was picked up again and was held close to my mother's chest as we she silently and wept along with me.