My work

Surprise (tw: death, murder)

It's my birthday ! I can't believe it, my birthday, my big day, I'm so happy! As I cheerfully get out of bed, I realize the house is awfully calm, my parents had an argument yesterday, so I just assume they left early in order to calm down. I leave a small note before leaving for school, telling them I'm alright, and that they shouldn't worry about me too much. During the day, my friends wish me a happy birthday, we have some fun during break, chatting until the next class. During lunch break, I get a single text from my mom, a short paragraph where she apologizes for leaving early, and where she wishes me a great birthday. She adds a little note in the end, telling me to be ready for a surprise after school. If only I knew.... After class, I excitedly go back home, eager to see my parents and tell them about my day. The "surprise" my mom told me about earlier, still in my mind, I open the door. But my mood quickly changed after passing the front door. In the living room, my parents argued, again. They yelled atrocities at each other, adding a few insults to punctuate their sentences. "Just stay calm" I told myself, it's my birthday, they surely will put their anger away for the night. I'll be strong for the three of us, and wait until they come to an agreement. So I discreetly go to my room, trying to distract myself from their shouts.

After a while, I look at the clock, seven pm. It had already been an hour and a half... I'm hungry, but I can't eat, I'd have to walk past them in order to have some food... I'm growing more scared by the minute, they probably forgot about me again, about my birthday... Soon enough, tears find their way to my eyes, running down as I try to calm myself, now isn't the moment to let myself be submerged by my emotions..." I have to be strong", this small sentence had been my motto for the past years, and today, more than anytime before, I had to respect it, to follow it, for me and my parents, for us, for our sake. This sentence, I keep on repeating it for a few minutes, convincing myself it will be alright, convincing myself we will be alright. Suddenly, it gets calm... not a single noise in the house. No screams, no crying, nothing except for my uneven breathing. I slowly open my eyes, checking if I'm still conscious, and surely enough I am...so after a minute, I get up, and walks my way to the living room, where the fight had happened. There, on the ground, lays my mother. I turn to my father. He looks at me dead in the eyes and says "surprise"