My neighbors stood at the end of their driveway, watching my father pull my mother’s head out of the car window by her hair. I went to school with their only son, Cameron. He stood on the cracked pavement between them.
They watched as my mother struggled to release herself. As her hands grasped his hands. As her eyes welled up with tears, and her mouth searched for words.
They did nothing.
I cried to them for help, but they just stood there, silent and flat like a photograph. Like they were sitting on their living room couch, watching a movie.
This broke my heart.
A searing image and a searing indictment of society.
Agreed, this is a searing indictment of our culture today. It’s very timely with the news of bystanders and even police watching a crazed illegal immigrant set a young woman on fire on a subway. Your story is horrifyingly relatable for many victims.
I want to know more!
Ugh. Unfortunately that happens a lot. Poignant story.
Moving story of childhood horror. Great, factual telling of the story by the narrator makes it even worse.
Acutely observed and heartbreaking.
“..silent and flat like a photograph..”
Oh, this is good…observed indifference.
Well done and so true an experience for many people.
inside I’m screaming, “at least call 911!”