The Boy Who Broke Mirrors

10

Throughout the next week or so, Dad begins acting strangely. I can't pinpoint what it is exactly, just that he's avoiding me, and when he does see me he turns all soft. I figure the guilt might be driving him insane, especially when on Wednesday night, he orders us a takeaway and allows me to eat it in the living room. Maybe he's found out that I've taken up rolling around in trollies in the middle of the city late at night, and he's not quite sure how to deal with it. It's not until the Saturday night that it all makes sense.

I stare blankly ahead of me, and I don't utter a word. I don't know what to say. I couldn't even conjure up a coherent sentence if I tried. He can't be serious. He cannot be serious. I lift my gaze to Dad, who's sitting on the sofa opposite the TV, and his lips are pursed as he awaits my response. His hands nervously rub against each other, and he's tapping his foot on the carpet. I run my fingers along the fabric of the sofa I'm sitting on. That scuff is still there.

'What?' I finally ask.

'The last thing I want to do is upset you, Mia, and you know I'd hate to make you uncomfortable in your own home. Gwen has nowhere else to go though, darling, and her husband's been awful to her after everything that--'

'No.' I grit my teeth. 'I'm sorry, but no way is that woman living here.'

'We don't have a choice.' The softness of Dad's voice makes me want to puke.

'Um, yes we do, Dad. She doesn't have to live here.'

What does he expect? He just told me his girlfriend---the reason Mum's life has been distorted out of shape--is moving into this house. My house. He can't honestly expect me to be okay with that. I scan Dad's face in hope of finding something that implies he's kidding, but I know all too well that he's dead serious.

Dad sighs. He drops his head into his hands, and his heavy breath is impossible to ignore. When he looks up again, his eyes are bloodshot, and for the first time in my life, I think I might see my father cry. He clears his throat, stands up, and moves across the living room to sit next to me. I shuffle away from him.

'Mia, I know all of this is my fault. I know I never should have cheated on your mum, and I know I should have just told her I wanted to separate before anything happened with Gwen.' I try to interrupt him, but he hushes me. 'But even parents make mistakes. Even parents can be careless, and stupid, and immature. I loved your mum. I really, really did. Something just went wrong along the way, and I was too scared to try and fix it. I let everything build up until it came crashing back down, and I cannot tell you how much I hate myself for that. I want to make everything okay again so desperately, and I'm trying, Mia. I'm really trying.'

'What part of Gwen moving in is trying, Dad?' I bite..

'She and I are in a relationship, and in the long run, you have to get used to that.'

I don't want to have to get used to anything. I just want everything the way it was before. Gwen has visited the house occasionally, but I've made myself scarce every time. I've never spoken to the woman before, and now she's going to be living in my home.