You had a row with your brother because he reproached you for coming home late, just before the village gates closed.

He raised his voice at you and then something inside you snapped and you hit him in the face with all your might. Liam fell to the floor from the blow, hitting the back of his head, blood flowing from his split lip, and on his cheek there was a red mark from your palm.

Liam looked at you with pain and dismay, tears of pain welled up in his own eyes, he had not expected such cruelty. You were brother and sister and it had never come to this.

He was hurt, offended, but he was silent, swallowing tears, accepting his guilt, but at the same time trying to understand whether there was always so much cruelty in you