Turns to ash

[TRIGGER WARNING: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS DISTURBING AND GRAPHIC CONTENT. READ WITH CAUTION.]

CLANG!

Zoren's hand froze, staring at the knife that had stabbed straight into the plate. The plate split in half from the force, and the blade was just a few centimeters from his fingertip. Slowly, he moved his gaze to his mother.

Naylani closed her eyes and clenched her teeth, tears pooling beneath her eyelids. As tears streamed down her cheeks, she opened her eyes to look at him. Her son looked back at her, and he didn't even flinch. 

"I'm sorry," she whispered, biting her quivering lips to stop them. "I'm sorry."

"..."

"My hand slipped," she explained. "I'll get you a new batch of snacks, okay? Don't be angry... please. Mom wasn't thinking — I was careless."

"..."