Fragile mirror

Chapter 1: Meetings

Meetings.

Toby tried to get up from the floor. Leaning against the wall, he struggled to get up and headed for the door. A terrible pain in his lower back pierced him as soon as he took a step. Groaning in pain, he continued on his way. Halfway there, the doorbell rang again. The sound was beginning to annoy Toby.

[Ringing.]

"I'm coming...". With a quiet groan, he began to open the locks. As he opened the door, he saw the person he most didn't want to see. "Dad?!". Shrieked Toby, standing in shock, looking directly at his father. His father in turn was surprisingly sober. "Hi can I come in?". Asked the father. "Y-yes of course...". Answered Toby and swung the front door open more firmly so that his father could cross the threshold of the house. "You already know what I'm here for, don't you...?". Asked his father with a nonchalant face looking straight into his eyes. Toby didn't answer anything, just stood silent and stared at the floor. The two went to the living room. Leaning back on the back of the couch, Toby felt the same pain in his lower back. "Have you heard from mom yet...?". Asked Toby to his father, who only nodded.

"Where have you been all night?". Dad asked. His voice sounded annoyed... "I was at the hospital... I was there until I heard the news about...". Toby didn't have time to finish before his father interrupted him. "And how did you get home...? It's night outside, and you're out walking in the middle of the night!". Rebuked the father to his son. Taking his turn, Toby only looked away from his father... "Do you have no brains in your head?!". Roared the father. Unable to stand it, Toby said: "What you came here for. You have your new best family of your own. So what's keeping you here. Is it really me!".

Dad got up from the couch. "Oh you... I would never come here in my life!". Roared his father, poking in Toby. "So go to your family that deserves you.... Forget this family. It's dead to you. All the words spoken that night I will never forget...". Said Toby in a cold tone.

"Whatever you say, but know that my foot will no longer be here... We'll see how you get along without my help!". Growling, father headed for the door. "Help?! To see help from you. That's something new!". Toby snapped at his father. "We'll see about that, brat. You haven't been family to me in a long time...!". Slamming the door, his father left. Toby leaned against the wall and slid to the floor, remembering the events of that very evening.

Flashback:

It was 2015. Toby sat at the table next to his mom and told her what he had today, waving his arms around and his mom listened to his story. "Today I played with cubes and built a big house for us to live in when I grow up. Then we went for a walk. There we played a game of...". Toby had no sooner finished than he heard the sound of a doorknob. Someone was trying to get into the apartment. "Toby darling. Go to your room. I'll be right there...". Said Tori, looking at her son with a warm smile. Toby obeyed his mom and quickly headed to his room. Once inside he quickly ducked under his bed trying to make less sounds. "What are you doing here Matt?". Asked Tori in a cold tone. "Going home! Don't w... don't you see!". Matt growled. It was clear he was drunk. "There's no home for you here. Go where you came from and don't come back.". Said Tori, preventing her husband from going inside. Matt only pushed Tori away and headed into the living room. "Where's that b-brat?!". Matt yelled so loudly it made Toby cry out in terror. "Get out of here!". Shouted Tori at Matt, but he just ignored Tori's words. Matt headed for Toby's room. Once inside he didn't notice his son. With quick movements he started throwing things off the closet trying to find his son. Toby in turn became even more frightened by what was happening. Tori tried to kick the intruder out, but she was half his size and all attempts to kick him out were for naught.

Matt noticed the tip of Toby's tail sticking out from under the bed. "There you are!". Saying that he pulled his son's tail. Toby whimpered in pain. Toby's eyes began to run with fear. "If only... If it wasn't for you, you lousy boy... Everything would have been fine... I could have provided for my family. BUT YOU RUINED IT ALL BY COMING INTO THE WORLD!". Shouted Matt, shaking him in all directions. Toby sobbed, not knowing what to do. He was hurt and scared at the same time. Tori pushed him away from his son and covered him with her body, not allowing him to get any closer. Matt only backed up and stared at them angrily. "I told you to get an abortion...". Before he could say anything, he was interrupted by Tori. "SHUT UP! GET OUT OF HERE OR I'M CALLING THE POLICE!". Tori growled, trying to shove him away from her son. "FUCK ALL OF YOU!". Growling back, he walked over to the door and slammed it shut with all his might, making Toby shudder even more.