Calum pov
The weather is cold. But not too cold. There's a slight breeze that brushes my bare neck every so often making me pull the sleeves of my crew neck over my hands.
I look around the school courtyard and find a comfortable place on the stone ledge. Shrugging my backpack off of my shoulder, I heave a sigh. Today has been a long day, longer than usual.
I tilt my head back with my eyes exposing my neck to the sky. I know I can't avoid going home any longer It's inevitable. Scenes of the past month claw their way over my memories, crushing the happy ones, and demanding to be noticed.
"David I'm so sick and tired of this! You can't keep coming home drunk at these hours!" She screams and I try to turn up the volume on my phone to block it out.
"Goddammit, if I was coming home to a wife that actually loved me, I might not have to get drunk all the time." He yells back. "Maybe one night I'll crash and I won't come home! Then you'll be happy!"
"Maybe I will! Cause then I won't have to babysit you while you get over your hangover! Grow up David, I'm tired of you acting like my child instead of my husband."
I curl my knees up to my chest and wrap my arms around them, rocking myself back and forth. Praying for it to stop.
"If you're planning on coming home drunk tomorrow too, don't even bother pulling into the driveway."
"FINE! I WONT! MATTER OF FACT, WHY DONT I JUST MAKE IT EASIER FOR YOU AND LEAVE NOW!?"
Heavy footsteps fall on the downstairs floorboard followed by a door slamming.
"FUCK!"
I hear my mother climbing up the stairs and her bedroom door shut. My chest constricts and air seems to get lost on its way to my lungs. If Mali were here, I would go to her room for comfort.
I look at the walls covered in posters and the picture frames on my desk. Pictures of when we were happy.
One is of my 13th birthday not too long ago. I had wanted to go to the beach and have a picnic but when we laid all of our food out, the wind swept sand up into our faces and plates. Even though the food was ruined, we were able to laugh it off and continue our day as a family....
The week after, dad lost his job and the drinking began.
A cool breeze makes me shiver, retrieving me from my thoughts. Some people might look at me sitting alone and feel bad for me but honestly, I don't mind anymore.
A couple of years ago I would have been freaking out trying to find people to waste my time with to avoid feeling uncomfortably alone. But now, now I I've learned how to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. I've learned that sometimes silence is a blessing and I'd take it over yelling, screaming and crying any day.
My pocket vibrates and I reach for my phone to find a text.
From Luke is my 🐧: Hey Cal, where are you?
I poke my thumbs out of my sweater to respond.
To Luke is My 🐧: In the courtyard.... Why?
