At seventeen Alex Manes was use to his father's rage, knew the feel of Jesse Manes' fists on his body as they tried to beat the gay from him. What he wasn't used to seeing was that rage turned on another person not of his family.
Everything good and pure that happened in those last few precious hours vanished in meer moments as his father took that hammer to Michael's hand. Not since his mother had anyone stood between him and his father.
Now all he could hear was the sound of crushing bones and the scream of agony in his ears as the world around him blurred. When he dared to open his eyes what he saw was not the shed and his father was nowhere to be seen.
"Michael?" He questioned when he heard his name being called. On shaky legs Alex began he run towards the voice. "Michael!" He yelled as the curly haired boy came into view. He wanted to sweep the other into his arms and hug him, but he stopped in his tracks when he noticed the mangled hand. "Oh my god, Michael…" he gasped bringing his finger to his mouth in shock. "I'm so sorry. Oh no… I'm so sorry."