MJA : Time Is Not Enough

Truth

When Victor entered his apartment that night, he found the front door was opened. He panicked, thinking that there might have been a break in. He never expected to see Christopher there in his living room. He was only 6 years old at the time. Victor asked him how he got there and as they were talking, Sharon and her men came out from the kitchen area. The last thing he told Christopher was to run and that was exactly what he did.

Sharon and her goons did not hold back when assaulting Victor. They violently threw him across the living room where he landed onto the side table, instantly breaking it to the ground. Then, another man grabbed him by the hair and smashed his face onto the coffee table. They kept kicking him and beating him continuously. Despite not being able to get up, Victor was trying to get his phone. He was terrified and he wanted to let Melanie Jayne know that he loved her, in case he didn't make it out alive.
--------------------------------------
It was after dinner and Melanie Jayne had gone to the bedroom to get dressed for bed. Ayaka was there to assist her so Victor decided to wait in the garden for a bit before going to bed. Christopher saw him sitting alone so he joined his father and sat beside him.

Victor: Hey buddy. I thought you've gone to bed.....

Christopher: I was going to bed..... But, I thought I wanted to talk to you a little.....

Victor: Sure. What's on your mind?

Christopher: I like your hair...... (smiles)

Victor: (laughs) You do? Melanie Jayne erm.....mommy likes it too.....

Christopher: (laughs) Speaking of mommy..... (takes out a photo from his pocket) I thought you might want this.........

Victor: (looks at the photo) Where did you get this?

Christopher: Nicole gave me your wallet after the house was destroyed. That's mommy, isn't it? (pointing at the photo) Melanie Jayne?

Victor: Yes. It's my favourite picture of her. (smiles) Thank you so much for returning this. (hugs Christopher)

Christopher: You really love her, don't you?

Victor: I do. I love the both of you.......so much......

Christopher: But....she's not my real mommy......is she?

Victor looked at Christopher and shook his head.

Christopher: Why did she hurt you? My real mommy........

Victor clears his throat and takes a deep breath. He knew this day would come and he wasn't about ruin his relationship with Christopher over the past.

Victor: Ya know.......she erm.......she wasn't a nice person......at all......Erm......She was......well......She used me........and then she........erm...... (looks at Christopher) I don't know if you understand.......

Christopher: What is extortion, daddy?

Victor: Where did you learn that word from?

Christopher: Nicole.

Victor: (sighs) Of course........Extortion is basically when you take money from people against their will.......

Christopher: Like stealing?

Victor: Close. Yes.......but not quite.......it's more like......threatening someone into giving them money......... (looks at Christopher) Your mother used you to threaten me into giving her money. She used drugs on me to get herself pregnant and then she knew that I would do anything for you, so.....she used you as an excuse to get me to work to get money to pay her........I know it's a little confusing........

Christopher: Is that why she hurt you? Because you weren't paying her money?

Victor: She hurt me because I wanted to see you. I always did. And she always said that the money I brought was never enough so she wouldn't let me see you. When I insisted on wanting to see you........well......that's when I get beat up so bad.......

Christopher: (starts to cry) She was always hurting you...... You always fought for me.......haven't you? And you always got hurt because of it.......

Victor hugs Christopher.

Victor: Hey, there is nothing I wouldn't do for you. Do you understand? (hugs Christopher) I love you so much. Mommy.......Melanie Jayne.....loves you so much. Listen, your real mother gave birth to you and you should never forget that.....but whatever she did to me, that is my problem. Not yours. You understand? We will do whatever it takes to keep this family safe. Together.

Christopher: I love you, daddy.......(hugs Victor) Thank you for always trying to keep me safe.....

Victor: (hugs Christopher) I love you too, buddy. 

Victor wasn't sure of the other times Christopher might have witnessed the violence Sharon practiced onto him but he was certain that everything that happened that night at his apartment must have traumatized his son at least a little bit. Christopher wouldn't be asking questions otherwise. He was also old enough to think for himself and he can see what is right and what is wrong.

Victor hugged Christopher and walked into the house together. They said goodnight to one another and went into their bedrooms.

MJ: Hey, you ok? You look a little.......

Victor: (hugs Melanie) I love you.

MJ: (surprised) I love you too, Victor. Is everything alright?

Victor: (sniffles) Yeah......erm......Christopher and I were just talking......He erm......he was asking about why Sharon hurt me and what extortion was........

MJ: What did you tell him?

Victor: The truth. I just wanted him to be clear about everything because I.......I didn't want him to grow up thinking that I had been lying to him about his real mom......

Melanie Jayne hugged Victor and sat down on the bed. 

MJ: (caressing Victor's face) Did he take it well?

Victor: Very. He's erm.....he understood why I did what I did......I think he's seen more than just whatever happened at the apartment that night......

MJ: What d'ya mean?

Victor: She's been erm......I used to fight them at her house because she didn't let me see him.....she said erm.....the money wasn't enough....... (covers his face and starts to sob) It was never enough......no matter how hard I worked......I worked at least three different jobs, Melanie Jayne. I was exhausted and I barely had enough for myself by the end of the week.....and she said it wasn't enough......I just wanted to see my son......I just.....I'm sorry. I didn't mean to erm.....

MJ: (hugs Victor) It's ok, Victor.

Victor: Do you know how humiliating it is to get beat up in front of your son because you didn't have enough money to see him? And to think that they just tossed me by the road near the trash.....they told me that I belonged there......

Melanie Jayne kept holding Victor because he was really broken up inside by the things that's been haunting him all this while. 

MJ: You belong here. With me. With us. You always did. (wipes tears from Victor's face)

Victor: I really thought I was going to die that night at my apartment, Melanie Jayne. I just wanted to get my phone. I wanted to let you know that I love you......I really wasn't sure if I was going to make it that night....... (looks at Melanie) When I saw you at the hospital.....with Christopher.....I was so glad to have been alive. Having the both of you with me is something that I am always thankful for. I love you so much.

MJ: I love you too, Victor. I'm so glad we're here together now. (kisses Victor) I wouldn't want it any other way.

Victor never really got over all the events that took place earlier in his life before he and Melanie Jayne met. Maybe that was the reason he was trying so hard to make everything perfect for her. He never wanted to have to tell her or anyone about what he went through because it was too heartbreaking and painful for him to remember. He knew that Christopher was going to ask about Sharon someday. He never anticipated it to be so soon.