The things one child saw, others did not. Twelve-year-old Malina, a shy timid child seemed to always be afraid. The sound of his voice would send her into a frenzy. How could such an incredibly handsome man be such a terror of a human being? The fear of a gangster father, the love of the most beautiful woman in the world, her mother. A mother with such rare beauty, she should have been a movie star, a celebrity, a model, anything but his wife. Startled, I heard my mom in her room crying, such a sad, distant cry, then like the exploding of a bomb, I heard him thrust her to the floor. My my eyes were wide open now, I saw him on top of her. He had her pinned to the floor with his body straddling hers. She was struggling and squirming, trying to get free from his grasp, which was completely impossible for her to do. His fingers wrapped around her throat, at the same time smashing the butt of a pistol into her face, all while choking her. He beat her till he himself passed out from his drunken stupor. For a second I thought they were both dead. Mom struggled to lift herself from the floor, blood all over her face and body. Quietly she tiptoed past him. I don't know why she didn't pick up that gun and kill him? Just blow his fucking head off for what he had just done to her. It would have been justified. One look at her face anyone could tell she has just been beat by a fucking madman.About the Author: Author: Malinda Guerrero Castoreno. Married 41 years to Louis, mother of 10 children, and at this writing 22 grand kids. A resident of North Side Fort Worth, Texas all my life.. My lifelong dream has been to put my words on paper in the form of a book. I write like I talk, and talk like I write, never shying away from a four-letter word. I have often said it is my goal to "Touch every man, woman and child" through my writing. If I achieve that in my stories, then I achieve my goal. Please take this journey with me and see what life may be like thru my creative eyes.