It's for the Best

Prologue

"Gabriel run to your room now, your father's coming. Quick take your toys too!" my mummy whispered frantically.  Me and mummy don't want to make daddy mad.

Toys in hand, I run before the front door can open. Opening the toy chest in my room, I put my things away before my daddy can see the mess. I take a deep breath, hoping I put everything in place.

Deep breathe in, deep breathe out; that's what mummy taught me. She said it helps calm me down. Deep breathe in, deep breathe-

"Gabriel sweetie, your father's home! Come say hello," my mummy yells from the living room.

I walk down the halls slowly. Mummy said daddy hates it when I run.

I see his body looming over mommy. They seem to be deep in conversation. A conversation is talking between people, my mummy taught me.

Gaining courage, I speak up. "Hi daddy..." He turns around, confused at first, but soon his face changes to that of joy. Mummy said it's fake; that he doesn't like me and he only wants to trick me. Daddy's mean.

"Gabe! My kiddo come give your dad a hug!" daddy says excitedly.

I hesitate before slowly wrapping my arms around his large body. He hugs me back immediately. I stiffen at his gesture. Daddy senses my anxiety, so he lets me go.

"What's wrong champ?" daddy asks. I look towards mummy for a second, a weird smile is seen on her face. I shiver before telling daddy that I was going to bed. "Okay Gabe. Tomorrow we're going for ice cream, okay?" I just nod before leaving.

Peeling the covers of my race car bed, I lay down. I'm drifting off to sleep when I see daddy come in. He slowly walks to my bed, trying to be as quite as possible.

Leaning down he kisses my forehead and tucks me in. I almost sigh in reaction to his affection, but it's not real. I have to get that into my head. Mummy said daddy's fake.

Daddy leaves my room while I battle my confusion. Slowly I drift off to sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The red numbers on my clock say 11:52 PM. I begin to wonder why I woke up, when the yelling answers my questions.

[No, daddy must be hurting mummy. I've got to help her.]

Quickly getting up from my bed, I run to my parents room. My hand slowly comes onto the door knob. I'm about to twist it, when I hear my name.

"Damn you David I will not let you take my son!"

"Listen hear Kristy, you do nothing but harm to our child! You feed him nothing but negativity about the world, about me! I would never hurt my child; I love Gabe with all my heart! What do you take me for! What did you think, that I wouldn't notice? Kristy I feel my child cower at my touch, I see him shrink at the sound of my voice! It hurts to see what you've had imprinted in his mind! For god's sake an 8 year old should be in school, they should have friends, they should be able to go outside and pla-"

"No! A child should always be with their mother, no matter the age! I am Gabriel's mother, his teacher, his friend! He should... no, he ONLY loves me! And that's how it'll always be!"

"What's wrong with you Kristy? Are you even hearing yourself? I wish I could help you, but I'm done. I will fight for custody of my Gabe-"

"Gabriel! His name is Gabriel not Gabe!"

"Gabriel... I'll fight for him, and I will win. Mark my words Kristy. I'm going to bed, I can't have this conversation right now."

"We will have this conversation whenever I'd like! I am your wife and you will listen to my command!"

"No, you are my wife, but that doesn't mean you are my master. Now shush before Gabe-," daddy sighs, "before Gabriel wakes up."

I back away from the door and run to my room. I don't understand, mummy said daddy hates me, but he just said he loves me. I don't know how to feel... mummy said he's a liar, but what if she's the liar?  No that can't be it... can it?

My thoughts stop when I hear my door open. Mummy walks in crying. I quickly get up and go hug her. She cries onto my fragile body. Fragile... another word she taught me.

"Mummy what's wrong?"

"Your daddy, he hit me. Gabriel he's a monster! Don't ever love him okay? He doesn't deserve it."

Why did mummy say daddy hit her? I didn't hear him hit her when I was there... maybe he hit her when I left. Yes, that has to be it. Why would mummy lie to me?

"Yes mummy, I love you only. Don't worry. You can sleep here if you want," I say while scooting over.

"Thank you Gabriel dear. Now go to sleep, it's late."

I nod and cuddle with my stuffed shark, Bruce. I begin to drift off when I see mummy leave my bed and head out the door. I want to call after her, but I'm just too tired.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I feel like someone's looking at me. I look at my clock; 12:33 AM. I look around the room and then I see her.  Mummy's holding a knife in her hand with a weird smile covering her face. She senses I'm awake and she walks towards me. The smile on her face falls when she smells my fear. Concern replaces it.

"Oh I'm sorry Gabriel, I just wanted to wait for you to wake up. Don't be afraid my dear, I won't hurt you. I love you Gabriel, just like you love me. I'd do anything for you, just like you'd do anything for me, right?" her face shapes into that of intimidation.

I quickly nod. Why wouldn't I do anything for mummy.

"Good. Now Gabriel, your scum of a father wants to take you away from me. He doesn't love you, nobody loves you but me. Everybody will do nothing but hurt you. They don't care. You belong with me, you got that?" mummy says everything so coldly. I don't want to believe her, but what if she's telling the truth. Mummy always cared for me, nobody has but her.

Sensing my agreement, she continues. "Gabriel my dear, we can't let him do that. We have to stop him. Here take this," she says handing me the knife.

It feels cool to the touch, but I can't have this! "Mummy take it back! I can't have this, you said so! This is only for adults!"

Mummy laughs coldly. "Take it Gabriel. Take it and push it through your father; push it in his chest. You remember where the chest is right?" I nod remembering the body lesson she gave me a while back. "Good, now go Gabriel. This is for the best."

"No mummy, I don't want to hurt dad-" My cheek begins to sting, and my eyes begin to water. Mummy... mummy slapped me.

"Listen here you piece of shit, I birthed you! I raised you and you'll do what I say! You will not disobey...You don't want my love do you? That's it huh?! You want me to hate you? Well guess what; if you don't kill your father then I will hate you forever!" Mummy's face is colder than ever. The look in her eyes confirm her statement.

"No mummy, I love you, please love me back!" I say frantically as I begin to cry.

The same weird smile spreads over her face. "Good, now go. We can't waste more time." Before I can argue, she leaves the room.

The knife remains in my hand. I can't lose mummy's love. Then I'd have no one. But do I really want to hurt my daddy?

I make up my mind and get off my bed. Slowly, I walk to my father's bedroom. The floor creaks as if to
warn him.

I place my hand on the doorknob and twist it open. There on the bed lays my daddy, sleeping. He looks so peaceful; he looks... nice.

I walk up to his bed and uncover his body. His chest raises and falls in a steady pace. I slowly raise my hand as I say goodbye to my daddy.

"I'm so sorry daddy. Mummy's making me do this! I can't lose her love daddy! You may not love me, but she does! That's too precious to lose! Please daddy, please forgive me. And daddy, I never said it but I love you. I doesn't matter now if you don't feel the same way. Goodbye daddy..."

The knife soon falls with a swift flick of my wrist.