After All • Calum Hood (Sequel to ISTTY)

56

—Calum! -my mom says as I get home-

—Mum -I barely say-

She narrows her eyebrows a little bit but steps aside and let me in

—Did you see Madeleine already? -she curiously ask, I'm lazily carrying my suitcases-

—Where's Wyatt?

All I want to do is take a bath and lay down with my son to watch anything he pleases to on the TV, I want to disconnect from the world and lock myself up with my son in a bubble

—He's upstairs, he's still sleeping, your dad's watching over him... I'm sorry we couldn't pick you up at the airport, son. -she touches my arm carefully and I relax to her touch. There's nothing like being with your mum-

—Don't worry, ma. Getting a cab was easy -she nods- I want to go upstairs to see my son

—And Madeleine?

—Madeleine's with Mali -I respond annoyed-

—You visited her already? -She asks and I nod-

—I don't want to talk about her nor be with her. I just want to be with my son, can I?

—Calum Thomas Hood

—What?! -I ask irritated, taking a deep breath-

—Madeleine needs you right now

—I guess you already know the reason why she's been admitted to the hospital, I guess you already know she never told me she was pregnant and that she denied me to live any moment with my daughter

—I'm not saying your pain is low or not important but it's not easy what she's going through either. Remember that she's the one who was carrying the baby

—Are you really standing on her side? Really?

—I'm not on no one's side, I don't like to have a word about your problems, but an abortion isn't something easy to live...

—Being lied to by the person you trusted isn't easy either

—Calum...

—No! -I cut her- anything you say will make me change my mind, Madeleine his something so big like that and I don't care whether she needs me or not right now, I need to be away from her and that's exactly what I'm doing. She lost a daughter and so did I

—You'll regret this later, son

—Then I'll regret it later, but today, for me, the right thing to do is to put myself first

She lets out a long sigh and I turn my face away from her

—You had breakfast? -she changes the subject and I shake my head, denying it- I'll cook something for you, don't even think of telling me you're not hungry -she threatens me and I smile a little because that was exactly what I was going to do-

—Meanwhile, i'll be at my bedroom

Without waiting for an answer, I make my way to my bedroom, hoping to see my asleep son. Once I made it upstairs, I ran into my father, who hugs me tightly

—Son, I've missed you. I feel like I haven't seen you in years

—Me too, pops

A feeling of guilt owns my mind, out of all my family the one who I talk less to is my dad, and it's because both of us are always busy doing something