A Prayer Left in Pawn

The once-cozy living room had become a courtroom, and Aris was on his knees in the middle of it. His mother-in-law spat that his innocent face had fooled them for sixteen years, calling him a devil who had fed her grandchildren fire. He offered no defense, only tears that dripped onto Sarah's feet, and she jerked them away as if his touch would stain her. Aris turned to his brother-in-law, softly reminding Dani of the time Honey helped him when he nearly quit college. Dani roared at him not to speak his name, kicked the box of Aris's clothes across the floor, and ordered him out before his name was struck from the family forever. At the gate, Aris looked back at the upstairs window just as his eldest child yanked the curtains closed, refusing even a final glance. Standing on that sidewalk, Aris felt part of his soul die.