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5

I run up to the front door and i let the tears fall. I run up the stairs, trip on the top step and fall on my face, not bothering to stand up. I crawl to my room and remember that my books are all still in Charls car and we have homework. Hmm. Two hours pass by with my tears and my thoughts on the floor.

'Ata whats wrong?'

'Nothing' i say wiping my tears away

'Hm... I dont believe you Ata... You dont need to suffer on your own' i dont want to give my problems to him.

'You know... You can be very annoying when you want to be, Trae'

'Whos the jerkhole i must pound into mince?' Trae asks while sitting on the floor next to me and cradling me in his arms.

'Its Caden isnt it?' he hisses and his grip becomes suffocating.

'Trae... Stop it... Whats your bloody issue' i say while wigling in attempt to free myself from his grip. 'First you leave me at school because of your "problems" with Caden and now you want to melt him. This isnt like you Trae... What happened to you?' i question and my voice becomes softer after each word

'Its... Nothing. Sorry Atarah' he hisses under his breath and gets up and slams my door behind him.

'Nothing... Its just nothing' i whisper to myself and take in a deep breath.

'Atarah, honey' i hear a knock on the door

'Yes mom' i call as i wipe my tears away. She enters and a worried look wrinkles her forehead.

'What is it mommy?' i ask, feeling my face twist into a frown. She clears her throat

'I... Uh...' her voice quivers, confirming that she is crying. 'Your...father is in the hospital' she continues and then she cant hold back any more tears and the waterfall comes.

'Mom, why?' i say while tearing up.

'The power went out in his office building and there was a gas leak, when the power came back on a few seconds later, it somehow lit the gas and the building exploded. Luckily your father was on the sidewalk. But he still got severly injured'

'Im sorry mommy' i say while crying and standing up. I embrace her in my arms and we cry together for what seems like ages. My head starts hurting from all the crying i have done today.

'Im going to go see your father' mom says as she gently releases her grip on me and walks out the room.

'Mom! Wait... Can't i come with?'

'Afraid not. Tonight is a school night and you look tired, honey. Get some rest and i will give you feedback on how he is doing when i see you again'

Moms reply leaves my suspicious, it is a school night and i may look tired but its only 16:00 and there is plenty of time to drive there and be back before the sun sets.

'Okay... Bye mom'

'Do me a favour and dont tell your brothers honey' she calls up the stairs.

Why is she keeping this from my brothers? She knows im going to tell them anyways.

I knock on Ashers door, and then when i enter i find him sitting on his desk, clutching a handle of some sort.

'Ash...' he doesnt show any signs that he acknowledges my existence.

'Asher... Dads in the hospital' i say softly. His head slowly turns towards me and i see tears rolling down his face and i immediately dash over to the desk, sit down next to him and embrace him dispite the smell of alcohol.

'It was my fault wasnt it? I sent dad to the hospital didnt i?' Ash whimpers

'No, Ash The building at work exploded and injured him it isnt your fault' i say stroking his back.

'Are you sure?' his voice cracks.

'Ash... Im one hundred percent sure. I know you would never do such a thing' i comfort him as best i can

'Okay... Im sorry... Im so sorry Atarah... I treat you like rubbish... And yet you still help me... Im an idiot for being drunk and not helping you instead. Im so sorry. Im sorry' he cries as he curls himself into a ball and lays his head in my lap.

'Ash, its okay. Just dont do it again. You know I love you no matter what'

'Never again' he whispers as his hands clasp around my leg, ensuring i can't leave.

'I wont leave you Ash, but you are going to have to work with me so that i can clean you up'

We both get up and i take his hand and lead him to the bathroom. I tell him to shower and i will wait outside the door. I lean against the door and wait for him to call me in once he is done. Ash opens the door and i fall next to his feet.

'Are you okay' Asher says while crouching beside me. I just start giggling and shortly after he laughs with me.

'You must have hit your head pretty hard' Asher says as he finishes his deep and rich chuckle. I get up and shave, wash and cream his face.

'There we go! All better' i chirp. He models in his towel and dances down the stairs like a fairy.

'Ash' i laugh 'get back here... We dont need you running around this house naked... Again...' i say while bolting down the stairs with his underwear and pjs.

'Im walking on sunshine... WOAH! Im walking on sunshine... WOAH! Im walking on sunshine... WOAAAAAH!' he sings at the top of his lungs and when i find him, he is jumping between the couches.

'Asher... Please be decent and wear some pants' i say while holding back my laughter. He turns and looks at me with a shocked expression.

'Sorry mother' he says sarcastically. 'And anyways... What better pants can you wear when you have built in skin pants?' he says while smirking

'Ash?' i ask nervously.

'Superman!' he screams as he jumps off the table and simultaneously rips his towel off. He ties it around his neck as a cape and "flies" into the kitchen.

'I can be so grateful that he already had underpants on' i breathe softly. Asher slides against the wall while humming the Pink Panther theme song.

'You worry me sometimes, child' i say while watching him run around like he used to when he was 7. Asher just sticks his tongue out. I take his second of distraction to my advantage and pounce on him. I sit on his stomach and slide the pants up his legs. He jumps up and to my luck doesnt take his pants off.

'Disgraceful' Ash says while sticking his nose in the air and putting a hand on his chest. I slip the underwear i brought down on his head and then beg him to put the shirt on. He puts it on obediently

'Im so happy to have you as my sister, Ata. I love you so much and im sorry for ever hurting you. I never intend to do such' Asher says as he embraces me in a hug.

'I love you too Ash' i didnt realize how cold i was until i felt the warmth from Ashers body.

'Time to go to bed, Superman' i tease and take the underpants off his head.

'Potassium' he replies. I cant help but laugh at his sharp, yet nerdy joke. The symbol of Potassium is "K". Nice one, Ash.

I tuck Asher into bed and leave his room to clean myself up and sleep. Not bothering to wonder what happened to Trae.