All Men Are Not The Same

'Forever' Is Just A Lie

The Howard family was on a ship that was about to sink deep down the seabed and none of its members could swim. Plus, there were no lifeboats on board. This perfectly describes the situation of this poverty-stricken family of three living in a tiny house on the outskirts of a town, Rose Hill.

Maddox's parents have been staying together in their shabby abode - far from the town centre - for around seven years. Over the years, bitterness has settled down between them. For some unknown reason, Mr. Howard seemed to hate everything about his wife. Nearly every night, little Maddox heard them arguing. He could not understand what it was about but chose to accept his mother's words as being the truth, "Your dad is just tired. He works hard for us." That's what he has always been told. But little by little, although he wanted to trust his mum, he knew that something was wrong. He knew that the daily arguments were hurting his mother whose voice could barely be heard. He felt helpless as he could do nothing for that woman whom he calls his best friend. Mum, one day, I will grow up and save you from these pains. For now, all I can do is pray for you.

Maddox would often see his mother with a sullen face sitting in a corner of the house, weeping. Then, her face would magically turn into a cheerful one as soon as she would see her son staring. Her tears would disappear by a swift movement of her fingers over her eyes. Maddox was but six, but he knew what was going on. He knew that his mum, Miranda, did not want him to notice her pain. Miranda was trying hard to keep her little family together. She was the one trying to make their house feel like home. She was not only a candle in the dark, as Maddox would describe her, but also a lifebuoy on a sinking ship!

As long as his mother was around, Maddox felt safe. Yet, paradoxically, in his heart, there was a constant fear. The fear of losing people he loved.

Days turned into weeks and weeks into months. Things changed but the Howards' arguments did not.

"Evan! It's too much now! If I'm no more needed here, it's high time that I just leave!" Miranda cried.

"Go to hell! I don't care!" yelled Mr. Howard. "You are the biggest mistake of my life!" he shouted, banging the front door as he left the house one evening.

Miranda crumbled down on the floor in tears. She did not notice Maddox approaching. A frightened Maddox who just witnessed his parents' harsh fight walked towards Miranda and placed his hand gently on her back.

"Mum," he whispered. "Don't cry."

Miranda looked up and saw her son's panicked face. She immediately forced herself to draw a smile on her face which was stained with tears.

Maddox sat down on the floor beside his mother. He looked at her, contemplating her face for a moment. He noticed that her eyes were slightly swollen. Probably because she has been crying for long. He also noticed that her mum's face appeared pale and thin. This made him shiver as he remembered his past best friend's face which looked exactly the same a few weeks before her departure.

Maddox finally mustered the courage and asked, "Mum, are you also going to leave like her?"

Miranda threw a confused look at Maddox who suddenly realized that he must have asked the wrong question. "I mean, are you really going to leave the house?" Maddox asked. "You just said so while arguing with...dad," he blurted out as his voice cracked.

Before Miranda could say anything, Maddox burst into tears, holding his mum's hands tight.

"Mum, you will not leave me, right?" he asked innocently amidst his sobs.

"Oh, honey! If I'm still here in this house today, it's because of you my baby," she consoled him. "I didn't mean what I just said to your dad. I was just angry at him. I'm not leaving baby!" she pursued as she wrapped her son in a hug.

"Promise me, that you will never leave me," Maddox insisted, his tears tainting Miranda's dress. "Promise me that you will stay here with me."

"I promise, honey," Miranda smiled as she wiped off some new drops of tears welling up her eyes. "I will stay here with you."

"Forever?" asked Maddox.

"Yes, forever," whispered Miranda.

And that was the biggest lie that was ever said by a mother to his son. How could she promise 'forever'?

Because, in this temporary life, 'forever' is just a lie.