All Just Words

HOME *

A/N: Whenever the chapter includes a flashback or is about something that had happened in the past it will be indicated with a (*) in the title of the chapter.

*Edited*

Home-the place where one lives permanently, especially as a member of a family or household

A funny word. We all have the image of what a perfect home looks like. Some have a perfect family who go about living their perfect lives, for some... well that's a whole other story.

Broken.

Dysfunctional.

Different.

Some don't see past their own perfect lives, what's one the other side where no one dares to talk about. The place that's normal on the outside, a smiling, happy family. But behind this facade lies something that does not get shared, does not get shown and just simply gets ignored by everyone else who doesn't see it for themselves. They all see these types of things in the media, but like most things, they look past it all because it does not happen to them. Whilst for others it's just part of their daily routine.

What will become of those from a broken home?

To be frank, nobody actually knows for sure.

Some people it makes them stronger, a fighter.

Some they have to grow up really fast to protect those they love from getting hurt.

For others it can break them completely. Taking away any ounce of life they have left in them, causing them to be numb towards affection, or at least that's how they feel, but still they manage everyday to hide the scars, cover up the fear and smile.

Smile and nobody will notice. That's what I do anyway.

***

"FINE LEAVE! BUT DONT FORGET WHAT YOU HAVE DONE TO THIS FAMILY. I HOPE TO GOD THAT YOU'RE HAPPY NOW!"

That was the last time I saw my mum. Dad didn't really explain much about the true reason why she left. Every time we asked it always was something different. "She wanted to." "She couldn't be trusted" "She didn't feel anything anymore". To be honest I don't think Dad knew himself. It all just came tumbling down around him and he was left with two kids, clueless.  I still think that he never truly forgave her and a incline of spite it still there at the bottom of his heart even after time.

She left as soon as the thick oak door exiled her from our lives. The almost deafening slam became the signal for defeat and I slowly began to unlocked the bathroom door to peak out into the aftermath of a warzone, to which I was greeted with quiet and not the good kind. Although that was disrupted by a low level growl in frustration. I watched as my Dad, slammed his body against the wall with the small amount of energy he had left, before sliding defeated to the floor.

"Dad...um you ok?" I asked warily, lacing my hands in my pockets. 

A stupid question to ask I know but it was the only thing that I could think of. He just replied with a simple nod, staring blankly at the wall in front of him, not paying any attention. His focus was then drawn to the smashed family photo on the floor. I bent down to pick it up, when a calm , caring voice spoke whisper-like, but still with authority,

"Don't. Be careful. I don't want you to hurt yourself, let me do it. I guess it's the picture you want?"

He reached out towards me and told me to move away while he scavenged through the shards of broken glass scattered on the floor. He retrieved the photo; It was filled with smiling faces all huddled together, a perfect family in my eyes. My mother and father together with an arm around each other, me and my brother standing either side. There was no hidden subtext. Everything we felt was displayed in this photo. The love we shared, the togetherness and closeness that we used to have.  All visible.  All real.  This photo was not taken that long ago. It's scary how fast things can change and how unpredictable the future can be.