Crippled Inside

Chapter 1: I Found Out

It was the beginning of summer when they first moved into the house that was bought for the two of them. As May turned into June Sean had begun to notice how the house was too small for 3 people, how every closet had been taken by the two of them, how the house felt like it had been assembled solely to preclude his father from living there. The only remnants of his father were the 3 boxes in the garage full of his fathers things though not very important things, just objects of a time that predated Sean's existence.

"So when is Dad coming?"

Yoko's face always winced when he asked the same way someone would if they stubbed their toe or pricked their finger. She was used to at this point brushing off the question and in a way so was Sean but today for whatever reason the response was different. She still winced but she said something different.

"Sean, I need to tell you something. I think it would be best if we sat down in the living room."

They transitioned into the living room Yoko holding onto Sean's shoulder as they walked. He wondered if she was trying to prevent him from escaping. They sat down on opposite couches. When Sean looked outside the window he saw trees shifting in the wind and the world made slightly greyer by the overcast sky.

"Sean... your father and I are getting a divorce." He was fidgeting with her hands but her eyes stayed on her son.

"What does that mean?"

"It means we are not going to be married anymore. You are still going to be living with me. It just means your Dad is no longer going to live with us."

"I don't understand why this is happening."

"Sean, I will tell you when you're older."

"How much older?"

"I- I don't know 18 maybe?"

Sean went quiet, his face unreadable to Yoko. The wind from outside was the only sound to fill the room before Yoko spoke again.

"Sean, are you okay?"

"Yeah..."

"It's okay to be sad."

"I'm-" He started to speak but stopped. "Can I go outside?"

"Sure."

Sean could tell it was about to rain but didn't put on the navy blue raincoat his mother bought him on holiday. He rushed into the woods before stopping. He stood still in the middle of a clearing for a moment as he looked up to the sky before hiding under a tree. He broke into a pile of tears.

The rain broke out into a pour. Yoko quickly grabbed her her white umbrella with the red handle before walking out to find Sean. When she found Sean she crouched down to look at him, he keeped his eyes away from her.

"Sean, we need to go inside." She said, touching his shoulder lightly pulling him upward.

"I don't want to."

"Well you're too old for me to pick you up anymore so you're going to have to stand up."

They stayed like this in silence for a moment before Sean stood up. He clung onto his mother as they slowly made their way back to the house. Sean broke away from Yoko when they got to the house, quickly retreating into his room.

Yoko dialed a number she had to look up in her address book.

"Julian I'm sorry to bother you but are you in any way able to..."