HE FLINCHED the moment his mother's palm landed on his cheek. It made his cheek numb, as well as his whole body.

'Why, Jonathan?" his mom asked in between her sobs. 'Why did you do that?"

His fists clenched. He wanted to cry so bad, but he chose not to. Jonathan did not want her mother to see him crying. He did not want her to see him as a weakling.

'If I were the one to drown, would you cry? Would you be like this too?" Jonathan could not contain his feelings any longer. ...