In the humidity of the summer day, things were taking a less than pleasant turn.

the Maybank household was more of a glorified shack, paint peeling, shingles loose or missing, an unkempt yard, and plenty of debris from the hurricane that had yet to be taken care of.

JJ had returned to his father with stolen drug money from a drug dealer, Barry, to pay off his restitution.

Luke Maybank did not want to use the money for JJ, but intended to use it for alcohol and gambling. When JJ tied to take it back, things got messy.

JJ was pinned against the grass in the yard, blood bubbling from his split lip, a black eye blossoming next to a growing patch of purple bruises on his cheek bone to match his ribs and abdomen.

Luke hit JJ again, not letting the boy off easy for starting a fight.

but JJ was finally fighting back.

he managed to turn the tables, and get his father on the ground. And he hit him. Again. And again. And again.

JJ's knuckles were raw and bloody, but he was angry. So so angry. His father had been abusive for as long as JJ could remember. He deserved every last ounce of pain.

tears stung JJ's eyes. Anger, pain, despair, and more anger swirled inside of JJ. It swallowed him in that moment.