heavy cross, tight shackle by Bogdan Dragos

 The house doesn't feel like home, mother. Not since you left for the other world after father left for another house from outside town   Now there's just me here. And my older brother who is younger than me mentally and will remain so for the rest of his life He still hears whispers coming from every dark corner of the house and because of this our electric bill is enormous   I can no longer take this   I'm not strong enough   I'm not willing enough   This cross is too damn heavy. It's breaking my back, breaking my soul   I want to get a better job and eventually a car and a wife and start a family   I can't do that while taking care of my troubled brother   I quit.   Tonight I will make his nightmares come true The electricity will go out…