Homecoming

05

I knew this nightmare too well.

Tony and I would disagree over something trivial, and then fists would come flying while the shouting escalated. Since Tony always won the fight, I would eventually back down to prevent myself from getting hurt any further. More often than not, Tony would drive it all home through verbal abuse that he knew wrecked me while he gloated in his victory.

Except tonight it ended a bit differently. In this nightmare, Tony started to cry instead. He sank down on his knees and hugged me like a child would grip their mother, burying his face on my thighs and bawling like a baby. It left me confused as I was unprepared for this turn of events. I try to soothe him by patting his head, but all I wanted to do was wake up.

"How could you do this to me?!"

I looked down but it wasn't Tony looking back at me—It was Kohl. I desperately tried to pry his hold off of me as he continued to scream. No matter how hard I tried to remind myself that this was not real, I couldn't get rid of the guilty feeling bubbling up within me.

In my effort to drown his accusations and my guilt, I apologized profusely, until I was the one crying and screaming louder than he was.

"Verne! Wake up, honey!"

"Mom?"

"You were screaming in your sleep. You okay?"

"Yes, just a nightmare."

There was a brief silence between us before mom hugged me. "Still don't want to talk about it?"

I shook my head.

She sighed and pushed the hair away from my eyes. "You need a haircut."

Her sudden change in topic had me giggling, and soon we were both laughing. Dad had to come and see what was the commotion. After they left to go back to sleep, I lay there for hours until sleep finally claimed me.

Late afternoon sunlight flooded my room the next time I opened my eyes. I must have been more tired than I've realized to sleep in this late. The dream last night must be the culmination of it all; the anxiety of life, and everyone else involved. My mind had finally cracked.

I pulled on a pair of sweatpants and slung a t-shirt over my shoulder. This late in the day, no one would be home. Camus' absence was odd. Mom probably left him outside before she had gone out. I made a beeline for the kitchen in search for a much-needed caffeine fix. I was midway through yawning when I was greeted with the most bizarre sight, and my arms flew to cover my torso.

"About time you got out of your scratcher. Camus is outside." Mom got up from her seat next to Kohl and grabbed her purse before heading for the door with a smile. "See you boys later."

Only when we heard the gravel crunching under mom's car did it seemed to break the silent spell. I shifted to look at him.

"Rough night?" Kohl grinned.

"What are you doing here?"

"Remember? I said I'll see you today, and since you're not working the only place you'd be is here. At home." He extended both arms for emphasis.

"Okay. You've seen me. Go home."

"What? No." He chuckled. "I'm here to take you out."

"Well, that's not happening."

"Oh, come on. I'll buy you food. It beats making it yourself. I know how much of a lazy bastard you are."

That last part was not as harsh as it may have sounded. His voice was dripping with charm, and he was giving me one of those smiles I wasn't immune to. I did my best to harden my expression. I was not falling for it.