My Neighbor's Wife

Chapter 37 - Final Chapter

"Ellis!" he heard his mother call for him. He looked back and returned his gaze back to the toad he had been chasing for half an hour already.

"Ellis!" another call and this time, his mother's voice was getting louder and nearer. He was torn between ignoring the enormous beast in front him or ignoring his mother. He contemplated for a few seconds before making up his mind finally, lunging at the animal which so effortlessly hopped away from him and with a croak, disappeared into the bushes.

He did not have the time to be disappointed for his mother caught up with him, holding him by the ear as she dragged him away back to their house. "I've been searching for you! We're leaving soon! Look at you, all dirty and sweaty! Go and have a bath this instant!"

"Yes, mum," he murmured but begrudgingly followed her.

He went up to his room, which was bare of his belongings except for the several bags where his things were stored. He sat down on the bed knowing he still have few more minutes before his mother would come running up and talk about him taking too long to shower. Today, they would be leaving to go back to his mother's hometown. He didn't want to go but he really didn't have much choice on the matter. The idea of having to start over again scared him, although his mother always reassured him that he would like it there and that he would have much more experience with the 'real world'. He did not know what she was talking about when she mentioned the 'real world' but it did nothing to ease him.

If it wasn't for his father, he would have chosen to stay here in Edinburgh. After his grandparents died of old age, his father was swallowed with depression; he stopped talking and going to work. Gin became his only company, and so every day he would drink and then pass out until he has had enough, repeating the same process all over again. Even his mother could not get him out of that state. After months of him being that way, he finally stopped and spoke to them; he told them that he wanted to go back to London and leave the house along with the bad memories it held. Sighing in defeat, he stood up and went straight to the bathroom, hoping the water could wash along the fears he was harboring.
**********************
David took her aside while she was busy with arranging the things that they would be bringing. When she turned to him, she could see his face was plastered with worry. She cupped his cheeks and ran her thumbs along his jaws, "David, what is it Love?"

He stood in silence for a while reveling at her touch, but he soon took her hands in and wrapped them on his waist while he did the same to her. "I just want to thank you," he whispered in her ear, his voice cracked sounding like he was about to cry.

"Love, what for?" she inquired; she broke off their embrace so she could look at him. Her heart broke upon seeing his eyes that were filled with so much sadness.

"For everything. For not giving up on me even though I've been a terrible husband and father to you and Ellis for the past few months." He answered, not looking at her.

She knew he was ashamed of his actions but she couldn't let him feel that way. It was understandable that he became depressed, his parents died for God's sake! She didn't hold it against him. She knew that was his way of coping and she couldn't do anything about that. She could only look out after him and make sure that he was not harming himself.

"Darling, you don't have to feel sorry. I understand, and Ellis, too. We're here for you, no matter what." She kissed him on the lips, not knowing anymore what to say. What was intended to be a kiss of comfort turned into a heated one, and before the two of them noticed their son was already in front of them, making puke noises.

"Oi! Stop that you brat!" she said while she composed herself. David was beside her grinning like an idiot. She was embarrassed of course, but showing that to her son would only make him tease them more. She was just glad that her husband seemed to gradually come back to his old self.