Parents.. with different treatment

Broken trust

It was a cloudy afternoon, and six-year-old Xander sat quietly in the living room, his toys scattered around him as he played alone. Valerie was at work, and though she was never gone for long, her absence weighed heavily on Xander. She was his safe place, the person he could always turn to when things felt too big or confusing. Today, with her away and his dad Colby watching over him, Xander felt uneasy. He didn't know how to explain it, but it was as if a storm was brewing, and he was caught in the middle of it.

Sam was there too, helping with Xavier and little Victoria, who kept him busy. Xander liked Sam; he was kind, patient, and had a way of making him feel seen. But even with Sam around, Xander's heart yearned for his father's attention. He always hoped for moments when Colby might give him a smile or a word of encouragement, something to let him know he was valued.

Xander watched his dad from the corner of the room, trying to find the right moment to approach him. Colby looked tense, moving around the kitchen with a look of frustration on his face, muttering under his breath. Xander hesitated but felt a sudden burst of courage. He took a deep breath, stood up, and walked over to his dad.

"Dad?" he said softly, tugging on Colby's sleeve.

Colby glanced down, a hint of irritation flashing across his face as he sighed. "What is it, Xander?"

Xander's hands fidgeted as he gathered his courage. He looked up at Colby, his heart thudding in his chest. "I... I just wanted to say... I love you, Dad."

For a brief moment, he hoped for a smile, a reassuring pat on the shoulder, or maybe even a kind word. But instead, Colby's face hardened, his expression darkening as he looked down at his son. He let out a frustrated sigh, his patience wearing thin.

"Xander," he snapped, his voice sharp and cold, "I hate you." The words slipped out before he could stop them, a flare of anger he hadn't meant to unleash.

Xander froze, his small face going pale as the words echoed in his mind, cutting through him like a blade. His heart sank, his chest tightening as he struggled to understand what he'd just heard. He felt a strange numbness, like a part of him had shattered, leaving him empty inside. Did Dad... really just say that?

For a moment, neither of them moved. Colby's expression softened slightly as if he realized the weight of what he'd said, but he didn't apologize. Instead, he turned away, muttering, "Just... go play with your toys, Xander. I'm too tired to deal with this."

Xander's legs felt weak as he took a step back, stumbling slightly. His father's words rang in his head, over and over, making him feel small and invisible. He looked around the room, trying to ground himself, but the walls felt like they were closing in, leaving him trapped with a heart full of confusion and pain.

Slowly, he backed away from his father, retreating to his corner of the living room where his toys lay abandoned. He sank to the floor, his hands gripping his knees as he tried to steady his breathing, his small body trembling. He wanted to cry, but even the tears felt frozen, locked behind a wall of disbelief.

Sam, who'd been busy with Xavier and Victoria, noticed Xander's pale face and the way he sat, curled up and distant. Sensing that something was wrong, he approached him, kneeling down beside him. "Hey, buddy," Sam said gently. "You okay?"

Xander looked up at Sam, his face blank, but his eyes spoke volumes. There was a deep sadness there, a quiet hurt that he couldn't put into words. He wanted to tell Sam what had happened, but a part of him held back. He didn't want to cause trouble or make things worse.

Instead, he managed a small nod, his voice barely a whisper. "I'm... okay," he said, but even he didn't believe it.

Sam didn't push him. He just sat beside him, offering a quiet presence, his hand resting on Xander's shoulder as if to say, I'm here. For a while, they sat in silence, and Xander felt a flicker of comfort. Sam was one of the few people he trusted, someone who made him feel safe when the world was too loud or overwhelming.

But in the back of his mind, his father's words lingered, twisting inside him like a thorn. Xander's chest felt tight, an ache settling deep within him. His father had always been distant, sometimes impatient, but this... this was different. Hate was a strong word, one he barely understood, but he knew it wasn't good. And hearing it from his dad, the person he'd hoped would one day accept him... it felt like losing a piece of himself.

As the day went on, Xander tried to distract himself by playing with his toys, pretending to be okay. But his father's words haunted him, a dark cloud that wouldn't go away. He felt alone, like a glass figure about to shatter, his trust in his dad broken beyond repair.

In that quiet, lonely corner, Xander wrapped his arms around himself, trying to remember the warmth of his mom's hugs and the words she'd say when he felt lost. You're special, Xander. You're loved. He repeated them to himself, clinging to her words like a lifeline, hoping they could fill the hollow space in his heart.

As evening approached and Valerie finally returned home, Xander felt a surge of relief. He ran to her, wrapping his arms tightly around her waist, burying his face in her shirt as if he could hide from the pain that had settled in his chest. Valerie, sensing something was wrong, held him close, her hands gentle as she stroked his hair.

"What's wrong, sweetheart?" she asked softly, looking down at him with concern.

Xander hesitated, his small voice barely a whisper. "I... I just missed you, Mom," he said, not yet ready to share the hurt his dad's words had caused. But deep down, he knew that something had changed. He no longer trusted his father. The love he'd once felt, however fragile, had been tainted by those three small words.

In that moment, Xander realized that he didn't have to look to his dad for validation or comfort. He had his mom, who loved him no matter what. He had Sam, who cared and made him feel safe. And most importantly, he had himself, his own small but resilient heart, stronger than anyone gave him credit for.

As he held onto his mom, feeling her warmth and love, Xander made a quiet promise to himself. No matter what his dad said or did, he would hold onto the people who loved him unconditionally. He would remember that he was special, even if Colby couldn't see it.

And while the hurt of that day would linger, he knew he wasn't alone. He had people who cared for him, and that was enough to keep going, to find strength even in the hardest moments. For now, he would focus on the love he had, the trust he shared with his mom and Sam, and he would carry on, one step at a time.