Family - II
The living room feels colder than usual, despite the soft hum of the heater tucked under the table. The furniture, once comforting in its familiarity, now seems imposing. The dark brown couch where I sit feels firmer than ever, the cushions stiff under my weight. The coffee table is cluttered with stray papers, an empty mug, and the remote control for the TV. The screen is still on, muted, displaying a news anchor’s exaggerated hand movements as captions scroll below.
Ma’s voice rings out sharply, a relentless tirade. Her words fill the space, leaving no room to breathe.
“Enough,” Father’s voice cuts through like a sharp blade.
He doesn’t shout—he doesn’t need to. His presence alone is enough to command attention. He walks over to the TV and switches it off with a decisive click of the remote. The room falls silent except for the soft ticking of the clock on the wall.
“Calm down,” he says to Ma, his voice steady. He places a hand on her shoulder, gently pulling her back from where she’s standing over me.
“Calm down?” she retorts, her voice shaking. “How can I calm down when—”
“Sit,” he interrupts, his tone leaving no room for argument. She glares at him for a moment but obeys, sinking into the armchair beside him.
“Get a glass of water,” he orders, his sharp gaze now on me.
I nod and scurry to the kitchen, my hands trembling as I fill the glass. The clinking of glass against the counter feels deafening in the silence. I return, and Ma snatches the glass, drinking deeply before setting it down with a thud.
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“Where were you all day?” Father’s voice comes next, quieter than usual, devoid of its usual cutting edge. It makes my stomach churn.
“Nowhere,” I whisper, barely audible.
“Sit down there and answer properly,” he says.
I sit on the couch opposite them, my hands clasped tightly in my lap. I can feel their eyes on me, but I can’t bring myself to look up.
“Raise your head,” he commands.
My head snaps up instinctively, and my eyes meet his.
“Where were you all day long?” he repeats.
“I was wandering in the town… and then I went to the forest,” I admit, my voice trembling slightly. There’s no point in lying—it’ll only make things worse.
“So you were roaming around the town and the forest for no reason?”
“Yes,” I reply, my voice small.
“And you skipped the appointment without any reason too?” he presses, his tone still unnervingly calm.
“No,” I reply, shaking my head slightly. “I didn’t want to go. That’s why I skipped it—it’s useless, a waste of time and money.”
Father leans back slightly, his eyes narrowing as he studies me. “Since when did you start caring about time? If you really valued it, you wouldn’t have wasted it wandering aimlessly.”
I have no response. His words hang heavy in the air, unanswered.
“And you also spent a significant amount of money somewhere,” he continues. “What did you buy?”
“Food,” I say softly.
“Food?” he repeats, his tone neutral but probing. “You spent 2750 on food? Were you doing charity? Feeding everyone who passed by?”
“No…” I admit, my face burning. “I bought it… for myself.”
I glance at his face, trying to read his expression, but it’s like staring at a blank wall. There’s no anger, no disappointment—nothing. Ma doesn’t say a word either, her hand resting lightly on her lips as she stares at me.
“You can go,” Father says suddenly.
“What?” The word slips out before I can stop it.
“That’s all,” he says simply, waving me toward the stairs.
I rise slowly, my legs feeling heavy. As I step toward the stairs, I pause and glance back.
“I can attend the session tomorrow… if you want me to,” I offer hesitantly.
“You don’t need to,” he replies, his tone calm and steady. “Since it’s a waste of time and money, you don’t have to go anymore. I’ll cancel the subscription.”
I blink, stunned. Did he really just say that? My eyes flick to Ma, but she looks just as shocked as I feel.
I slowly climb the stairs, each step feeling like it stretches longer than the last. My room feels suffocatingly small as I close the door behind me. The faint smell of lavender from an old air freshener lingers in the air. I walk toward the room, open the gate, and I am on the bed in a flash, replaying what just happened.
I still can't believe it. I got out so easily? No taunts, no harsh words, nothing? This can't be real—no way. I move my legs like a kid, sitting up and lying down again trying to make sense of sequence I just witnessed.
In my happiness,I dump my face into the blanket. It feels soft. It's sof.......
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