Love

"No!" I yell as I race down the porch steps. "Not him!" I watch as three beefy men carry my squirming brother towards a black van across the street. "Please!" I grab one of the men. "Take me instead!" They pause and share a look. My younger brother is dropped to the ground with a yelp. The men grab my shoulders and steer my towards the back of the van. My brother cries for me to come back. "Buddy, listen to me! Are you listening?" I imagine him nodding. "Go inside, lock the door! Do it! Lock the door! And Buddy don't-" The van's door shuts in my face, cutting off my words. Don't forget me, I whisper to it, please don't forget me.