Elliot buried his hand in his armpits. His clothes offered little protection against the biting cold. His mother often threatened to lock him out for the night whenever he was late coming home from school. She never did, and he believed her threats would remain just that.
It wasn't his fault that he was late today. His teacher had given the entire class detention. But his mother would not hear the excuse. She cursed at him, then kicked him down the stairs before locking him out of the house. Hunger and the cold would keep him awake all night.
ns 15.158.61.8da2
