HEL(P)lace #JustWriteIt #EarthLove

Mother and Son

          "Mother," I call out, only getting silence before the finger came out. "Jeez, thanks. At least, I got a response this time."

          Walking around my mother , I start to collect the plates one by one. Utensils are always my last priority. Dumping them into the kitchen sink, I roll my sleeves up to a decent length and glance back to my mother. Mother looks more weary than usual. It wasn't that surprising since she had been working overtime for the past few weeks or so. From pictures, she was once a decent looking gal, but birthing four children at the raw age of twenty-one with no husband can really take a toll on anyone. 

          Mother isn't insane. At least, from my point of view, that is. She doesn't talk to her children much, doesn't cook, doesn't clean the house, doesn't even pay for two-thirds of the mortgage. I really don't get why we don't just move underground, where the houses are much cheaper. Yet, every time I would bring that up, mother would just lash out at me. She doesn't cut her nails. At first, it hurts since blood would be drawn but it would subside and sting a bit. After each session she would immediately apologize by going on the ground to her knees, pleading incoherent words for forgiveness. 

          After all, blood is precious. 

          Pulling out the sponge from a container just near the sink, I turn on the water, soaking the plates. Fifteen years of my life in this world we call 'Yuin', nothing has really changed; everything seems just about normal for a day here in this world. If I were, to be honest, my definition of 'normal' to yours could be completely the opposite from what we think they are.  

          Sighing quietly, I turn off the tap and commence to scrubbing the dirty utensils. After the first round of washing, I hear a grunt: my cue. Quickly finishing up the second round and putting them in the drying rack, I dry my hands hastily before rushing over to my moaning mother. 

          "Mother, what's wrong?" I ask in a worried tone. 

          Her blue icy eyes don't meet mine, instead, they dart around crazily. Trying to read her eyes, I eventually figure out what she needs. "Didn't your boss give you your daily dose?" All I got for an answer from her is a slap in my face. It was a no. 

          "But that's crazy! That's not in regulation,"  I say, knowing that no matter how my mother is, she never lies. "You should report this to the police. H-How long has this been going on for?"

          She traces her bony pale finger on the glass table in a repetitive pattern, leaving faint oil marks. 3 months. 

          "No, no, no," a panicking tone taking over me. "If this keeps up, y-you'll be dead. If not dead, you'll lose another part of your body!"

          Mother's eyes widen when I say the last part. "Unnng. Huuuuunnngg. Huunng..."

          Shamefully, I dip my head down, placing my hand on hers to stop it from shaking so hard. Her hand was so fragile that it felt like it was going to break on touch. "Yes mother, I knew. The week after you came home from work that day, I figured it out."

          As she continues to go on her tantrum which consisted of harming me, I contemplate for what I should do next. Her reaction wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Trying to keep a secret this fatal can really cost a person's life... She didn't want that... did she? The reason why my mom never talks isn't because she hates us, no. She doesn't talk because she doesn't want to. It's because she can't. Mother never opens her mouth wide enough for me to see anything, but it was enough for me to know that she chose her tongue. It was a pretty clever choice for her to choose to lose her tongue since many jobs don't require you to speak, although, it would've been even more clever if she didn't get herself into this mess in the first place.

          I don't know what she did to deserve a level three punishment, but I know better than to ask. Whatever she did, it was all in the past now. What's important right now is her health, adding onto the fact that she's working overtime. Give her about a year or so and she'll be done for if this keeps on going with the pace it's going at. 

          Standing up, the sudden movement from me made my mother stop beating me briefly, eyeing me with full curiousity. Managing a small smile, I tuck a loose strand of dirty blonde hair behind her ear. "Don't worry. Your son, Ioni, will take care of things."

          "Nng. Nn... Ughhg," she grunts out, obvious disapproval noted in her tone. She didn't want me to leave her side. 

          "Mother..." I start to say but got a hold of my tongue. Exhaling, I sit down on a chair dejectedly. "Fine. I'll comply with your wishes." Was what I said out loud.  

          The day rolled by as per usual, expect for the fact that I was thinking of defying my mother's wants. Laying on the sofa, the black leather felt cool under my skin. Biting my nails in deep thought, it wasn't long before I realize I broke through flesh, fresh red liquid beginning to ooze out slowly. 

           Blood... Wiping it away with my index finger, the bleeding didn't seem to stop. I eventually stop and plainly stare at it. "Maybe, I could..." I start, closing my hand slowly. "... No, I need to make sure every other solution doesn't work before resorting to that. 

          Swinging my legs in a large circle, the force brought me up from my seat. Noticing a small white powder coming out from the couch, I simply sighed out in annoyance before going over to the kitchen drawers and pulling out a sewing kit. Going back to the couch, I carefully sew them back together. At least, the hole wasn't as big as last time. Finishing the stitches, I used my teeth to sever the fine thread and began to put them back into the kit. Looking around our home, there really wasn't much to see as you could basically see the whole place in one scan. 

          The kitchen took up the most room (almost two-thirds), the couch being parallel to the front door, washroom a few feet away from it and bedrooms? I sleep out in the living room while my mother sleeps on a wall bed (A bed you can pull out from the wall).

          Checking up on her, I see she was already fast asleep. Mother almost looks like she's in peace whenever she sleeps. Fixing up her blanket, I gingerly tuck her in and give her a quick peck on the forehead. Going over to the kitchen table, I brought out some ink and a brush, writing a quick note. The glass was soon covered by my mediocre handwriting but at least, it was readable.  

Perfect. Now's my chance to go outside. 

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For the #EarthLove challenge! There are parts where it doesn't make sense but it'll work out... I hope. I mean, I'll try to reveal them as I keep on writing! I'm thinking of writing about 1,000 words per chapter so it could be a bit neater, so there should be about 10 chapters in total then.

Chap. 1 Word Count: 1196

~ IxC