Silence is Golden

Chapter 15: November 2010

The next morning, Rain and everything that happened that night at homecoming was gone. My mother needed help. At ten in the morning, I have made myself a nice little breakfast with eggs and potato, still in a cheerful mood. By twelve, my mother still wasn't up; I knew something was wrong. I made my way into the master's bedroom, a tuna sandwich, her favorite, in my hands.

My mother was awake, unable to move, her eyes swollen with sadness, an empty box of tissues in her hand.

Mother, I brought you something to eat. She didn't see me.

Taking a seat next to her in bed, I realized how different she looked. Her skin was pale, almost translucent, veins showing through. Although she was not boney, she defiantly lost a considerable amount of weight, for she was visibly thinner. Her cheeks were hollow, her eyes dead, starting at the blank wall ahead of her.

I shoved the sandwich in front of her. Eat. I instructed.

"Aiden," she finally said in a calm, lifeless voice.

Eat.

She shoved the food away from her. "How can I eat now? My stomach's not hungry."

Seeing my mother like this suddenly got me hard in the gut. My father had really broken her by leaving us. She was stuck with me, the unholy piece of shit that couldn't talk. It was all my fault now that I realize; if only I was never part of this family.

I placed the tuna sandwich on her bedside tables before quietly walking or of the room. Grabbing my wallet, I headed out the door without another thought. Where I was going, I wasn't really sure. What I did know was I ended up at Baskin Robbin's. I mindlessly walked in, ordering one scoop of cookie dough in a cup. Everyone was always so nice at Baskin Robbin's. No one has ever questioned me when all I did was point at what I wanted.

I enjoyed my cup of ice cream for what was apparently two hours, sitting in one of the metal seats outside of the shop. Slowly, I got up and began wandering again. I debated if I could find an old park bench to stay the night. I could live the rest of my life as a hopeless mute, begging for money in a worthless world. "Life" is the most valuable gift someone possesses, they said. I could see why some people do not appreciate such a gift.

I truly debated if it was worth it to go back home to a family that was broken. In the end, my heart decided for me, casting my feet towards home.

Opening the door, I was greeted with my name. I rushed in, wondering what could have happened. She in the kitchen.

"Aiden?" She called out, her voice filled with fear.

I ran into the kitchen, my heart thumping out of my chest. I was a fool to have decided to have a "me" day today. Selfish little brat.

"Aiden!" She greeted me weakly, arms stretched out for me.

Tears flowed down her cheeks, dripping off of her chin. I couldn't bear seeing her like this. I ran into her arms, squeezing her in a tight embrace.

"Don't leave me Aiden, don't ever leave." She sobbed into my shirt, her thin arms wrapped around my waist.

She loved me. But I couldn't make her happy.