HIM AND I

chapter 2

My parents never had issues with their marriage,in fact, most couples in the neighborhood looked up to them , although most were envious looks, not until everything changed swiftly.
I remember it clearly,their first fight,I had never seen him that way before. The rage in his eyes,the stuttering,the aggressiveness in his pace.

I heard noises,so I hurried down the stairs and when I saw them arguing I just sat there in awe,a part of me wanted to get popcorn. I was surprised,yes,but I wasn't scared, because it's dad he always figures things out,it's what he does. They kept on repeating names that made no sense to me during the argument. I had questions running through my mind,like who were these people and why were they the topic of the argument. My state of curiosity could kill me at that point,I just wanted to know more ,I leaned in and apparently made a little noise.

we should have replaced those damn stair boards.

They turned to me and stopped talking immediately,and that was all I saw ,I'm sure they continued when I left after the two minutes of awkward silence ,I could tell from the cold stares they gave each other the whole week.

Everything escalated gradually over the time and they both changed into individuals I couldn't recognize. We stopped having dinner together or doing anything as a family in general. A year and a half went by and our home turned into a house,we never thought it would go this far, nobody knew dad had it in him,my mum went from his everything to someone he couldn't even look at.
He was an artist,it was more of a side hustle until he bagged a huge deal and made it a full time thing. His works were always beautiful and had deep meanings,we weren't always well-situated ,but before we knew it his works were all around and he became famous,but only around art enthusiast most people didn't know who he was or even cared.

*Months later

It was a very bright morning with the sun up as early as 7am and I was leaving Ira's place.
  
After the fight was finally taken seriously after 3 weeks since their first argument I was asked to move in with Ira temporarily,not like it was violent free also.

Ira dropped me off right in front of the house and we said our goodbyes fast. I knew everything wasn't alright yet immediately as I saw him standing in front of the door with his arms crossed and a forced smile on his face. I walked gently towards him and gave him a hug which was intended to be short. He held me tightly against his chest and I could hear his heart racing.

We entered the house and I could feel the absence of something, someone. I turned to him with questions in my eyes but no words to convey them and he got the message quickly.
"She left".He said and with it followed this hatred that kept building with every breath I took,how could she!?
"Why?"I asked with tears in my eyes,but I got the reply I wanted from his silence.

"Doesn't she want to fix this? can't she how it's affecting us?".
I broke down in front of him then he finally found words to say

"I'm sorry,I tried but you know how she is, I can't..."

"It's okay".
I said gently as I wiped the tears off my face.

"Why don't you settle in, I'll get dinner started then we can catch up ,is that okay?" I nodded.

I went to my room ,after while I started hearing noises, again. It sounded like he was having a disagreement with someone, I ran down and saw mum. But just as I arrived at the scene he left slamming the door.

"What happened"I asked her with a tone I hoped she understood
"Nothing he's just going to the bar...."
I left before she could say anything else.

I walked down the street and I just wasn't feeling right. I walked pass people hurdling up in front of a bus but I just started running hoping to catch up to him, I quickly got tired, with no sight of him , I hurriedly called him,he wasn't picking up.

I heard ambulance sirens and I could feel my heart trying to escape my chest,I called again as I ran back to the scene, the adrenaline made it happen so fast ,I swear I broke a record that day but that was not the only thing I broke, I missed steps then twisted an ankle,it slowed me down but I miraculously got there.
I surfed the crowd, pushing everyone away and before I could get to the man laying on the floor I already had tears in my eyes,it was him no doubt.