Why Is Life So Harding?

Ch. 1

Mac trudged along the familiar route from the robotics club, the weight of grief heavy on his shoulders, a constant companion since his grandfather's passing only a week ago. The house loomed ahead, its grandeur a stark reminder of his displacement. He couldn't bring himself to call it home; it was merely a temporary shelter among strangers.

The façade of the house, with its white paneling and navy blue shutters, held no comfort for Mac. It was a facade that masked the ache of loss and the longing for a family he once knew. A sprawling lawn adorned with scattered toys and playful chalk drawings seemed like a mockery of the happiness he once knew.

Inside, the semblance of family life carried on, but Mac remained detached, an outsider in his own home. Melissa and John, the well-meaning caregivers, attempted to bridge the gap, but their efforts only served as painful reminders of what Mac had lost.

The siblings, a blend of biological and adopted children, danced around him, their laughter echoing hollowly in Mac's ears. Gabby, the responsible older sister; Jace, the aimless brother; Cristina, the fiercely independent athlete; Nick and Peter, the trouble making twins and Sammy, the energetic younger brother—all orbiting around Mac, trying to fill the void left by his grandfather's absence.

But despite their efforts, Mac couldn't shake the feeling of isolation. He longed for the simplicity of his past, for the companionship of his best friend Bozer, whose absence now weighed heavily on his heart.

As he stepped into the house, greeted by Melissa's cheerful inquiry about his day, Mac's responses were curt, his mind preoccupied with the weight of his grief. John's similar query was met with the same dismissive reply, as Mac retreated further into his solitude.

Alone in his room, Mac locked the door, seeking solace in the silence. He knew Sammy would come looking for him, eager for his attention, but the thought of companionship only fueled Mac's desire to be alone. Guilt gnawed at him for pushing away the one person who looked up to him, but the pain of his loss was too raw, too consuming to bear.

As he settled into his desk, the weight of loneliness pressing down on him, Mac pushed aside thoughts of his grandfather, burying himself in the refuge of his homework. It was a feeble attempt to escape the emptiness that lingered, a temporary reprieve from the ache of his shattered world. And that's how Mac spend the rest of his night, alone in his room, not wanting anyone to bother him. He didn't even join the family for dinner that night.

The next day Mac trudged home from school, his steps heavy with the weight of unresolved grief. The familiar sight of the sprawling house did little to ease the ache in his heart, but as he approached the front door, he was greeted by a chorus of laughter echoing from within.

Curiosity piqued, Mac pushed open the door and stepped into the warmth of the family room. Gabby and Jace were engaged in a spirited debate about the latest blockbuster movie, while Cristina practiced her dribbling skills outside with Sammy cheering her on from the sidelines.

For a fleeting moment, Mac felt a pang of longing—a yearning for the camaraderie and connection that seemed to come so effortlessly to his foster siblings. But before he could retreat into the shadows of his solitude, Cristina caught sight of him and beckoned him over with a smile.

"Hey, Mac, come join us!" she called out, her enthusiasm contagious.

Reluctantly, Mac shuffled over to the group, his guard still firmly in place. But as the evening wore on and the laughter flowed freely, he found himself slowly letting go of his reservations, allowing himself to be drawn into the warmth of his newfound family.

It was a small victory, but a victory nonetheless—a crack in the armor that had long shielded him from the pain of his past.

As days turned into weeks, Mac found himself drawn further into the rhythm of family life. Whether it was helping Melissa in the kitchen or playing catch with Sammy in the backyard, each moment spent with his foster family chipped away at the walls he had erected around his heart.

But it was a quiet moment with John, the patriarch of the family, that truly began to thaw the ice around Mac's heart.

As Mac sat alone in the backyard, the soft glow of the setting sun casting long shadows across the lawn, he found himself lost in a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. Memories of his grandfather danced at the edges of his mind, each one a painful reminder of the loss he had endured.

Lost in his thoughts, Mac was startled when he felt a presence beside him. Turning his head, he was met with the sight of John, the father figure he had struggled to connect with since his arrival.

"Hey there, champ," John said, his voice warm and reassuring. "Mind if I join you?"

Mac hesitated, unsure of how to respond. Part of him wanted to retreat back into the safety of his solitude, but another part longed for the companionship that John offered. With a small nod, Mac shifted over on the bench, making room for John to sit beside him.

For a moment, they sat in silence, the only sound the soft rustle of leaves in the breeze. Mac fidgeted with the hem of his shirt, his thoughts swirling like leaves caught in a storm.

"It's okay to miss him, you know," John said, breaking the silence. "I'm sure your grandfather was a special man."

Mac nodded, his throat tight with unspoken emotion. He had spent so long trying to bury his grief, to pretend that everything was okay, that he had forgotten how to let himself feel.

"He was the only family I had left," Mac admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "Now it feels like... like I'm all alone."

John placed a reassuring hand on Mac's shoulder, his touch grounding and comforting. "You're not alone, Mac," he said softly. "You have us. We may not be your blood family, but we care about you just the same."

Tears welled in Mac's eyes, the dam he had built around his emotions finally beginning to crumble. In that moment, he felt a surge of gratitude for the man sitting beside him, for his kindness and understanding.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the sky in shades of orange and pink, Mac leaned into John's embrace, allowing himself to be vulnerable in a way he never had before. And as they sat together in the fading light, Mac hopped that he had finally found a place where he belonged—a place where he was loved, accepted, and truly understood.