It All Started With Stargazing

6|You have to choose,Mom.

I was in my room, playing with Aubrey when I heard my father's voice. He had never been like this. He changed after Aubrey was born. I was his stepson so I didn't expect him to treat me well. I heard it in the Snow White Story my real Dad told me. But he never behaved well with Aubrey too. But now, he was just a person to me who harms my mother. Mom couldn't leave him. I think that it is because of me and Aubrey. I was seven while Aubrey was just three. Paul comes every day drunk as hell, probably fucking a new girl every day and then comes at home and beats Mom. Today was different though. I could feel it. Mom and my stepfather, Paul Canfield were shouting at each other so loudly that I can hear it. They don't shout so loud. I closed the door but then saw Aubrey deep in sleep. So I sled down to the living room and stood there watching them fighting. No one noticed me. I was so tired of this that I hated it when he came home fucking a new girl half his age and then beat mom. And to top it off, he expected us to behave like the happiest family in the world. We were in reality far from that. I know it is hard to believe that a seven-year-old like myself can swear, but I can say that maturity cane early in me. I loved my Dad. He always told me that every time passes. But he also told me that sometimes you need to act or you will never pass through it. I watched them fighting, mom crumbling to pieces every second. This was it. I can't stand this anymore. I cannot let Aub's future worsen. I can stop this. I just had to act. Like Dad said. So I did. I cleared my throat which grabbed their attention towards me. When Paul turned, I saw his white shirt covered with stains of lipsticks and stuff. Gathering courage from somewhere, I spoke, "Get out."

He glared at me while Mom said, "Sweetie, don't you have to go to school? Go to sleep."

"No mom. This is now or never. This is it. He cannot just come home fucking a new girl, beat you and then expect us to greet him. He cannot cover his shirts with stains and lipsticks. He cannot come house with sore legs just because he fucked." I said. Paul's eyes widen and he turned towards Mom, "Tell him to get lost before I lose it."

Mom stared at me with pleading eyes, "Go to sleep, sweetie."

"No mom, if you cannot begin a new life because I am still small and Aub is too, then I will have to make you." I don't know from where I gathered this much courage, but I did. And by the time I saw Paul running towards me, I had almost given in. Tears pricked my eyes but I knew I had to be strong. Strong for mom. Strong for Dad. And strong for Aub. I closed my eyes for some kind of reaction, but it never came. I opened my eyes to see Mom on her knees begging Paul to let me go.

"Please, Paul. He is just a kid. He doesn't know what he is doing." She was crying by now. I knew she would never leave him because of us but she had to. So I did the bravest thing I ever did in my life. "You have to choose, Mom. It is either me and Aub or him." I said. Her head whirled towards me, eyes wide as saucers.

"Mom, you have to. I don't know what I will do, but if you choose him, I will take Aub and her stuff with me and do anything for her to have a nicer life. And if you choose him, you will never see us again. You have to choose. It is either me and Aub or him. Either your kids or the person who doesn't give a shit about you." I finished. She was restraining herself. I can see it. But I knew she would choose us. She would never choose the freaking guy in front of us over her kids. But a little part in my mind was saying that the otherwise would happen. But the majority won. She told him, "I am sorry. I cannot let them leave my life." I turned towards him and yelled, "Dear Paul Canfield, it is clear that you have to leave the house now. Do you want an invitation for so?" Without uttering a word, he went upstairs and brought down five bags. And Aub.

He came towards us and shoved Aub into my arms and spoke, "Get lost, bitch. This is my house. And never show me your face again." Mom picked up the bags as she knew that we were going to leave. She ushered me out of the house and then started dialling someone. Suddenly I realized that this act of mine made us homeless. Shit, now mom and Aub are going to be homeless just because of my fault. As if mom knew what I was thinking, mom came and hugged me. She then whispered, "You are just like your father. You know what was right and because I cannot do it, you pushed me. You are just like him and we survived everything. We will survive this too. And this wasn't your fault. Don't blame yourself." She said. The person on the other line picked up the phone and they talked. After a few minutes, a big car came to our doorway. The person came out and I was unable to pinpoint where I had seen him. I was sure I had seen him but could not pinpoint where. He put our bags in the car after greeting mom, Aub and me. "He looks just like Sir." He said to mom when he looked at me. She turned towards me with admiration in her eyes and then replied, "He is like him, Dylan." When I heard his name, everything fit in. He was my father's secretary. I used to play with him before Dad went. For forever. After they were inside, Mom called for me. I turned to look at the house containing bad memories except for the times when Aub was born and times when he was not at home and then sat inside.

∞

I probably nodded off in the car because mom had to stir me awake. When I stepped out of the car, the scenario I was seeing was unbelievable. I had to pinch my arms to know if this was real. It was. Our home laid in front of us. The only place which contained the best memories. Memories of me and my dad. Dylan helped us in and everything was clean. We left this house when dad died. But it looked normal. Everything was clean and shining like no one abandoned the place.

"Sweetie, you know your room. Take Aub with you please and sleep. I have some work to do." Mom and I took Aub with me to my room. When I opened my room, I saw the pictures Dad, Mom and I hanged when I was a kid. Well, smaller of course. Stars that glowed in the darkness were glowing. Dad always loved Stars. He told me everything there was to know about it. When he died, I researched about them and updated myself with everything about them for him. Somewhere I believed that he was there in my heart. And if I kept myself update, he would be too. I laid Aub on the bed and closed the door. Mom and Dylan were probably downstairs and busy. Aub was sleeping. I sledge down the door as I cried. I missed Dad. He was the best person I ever met. He was my hero and a brother and best friend. It never felt boring with him. He always had something to talk about. He knew so much but never took pride in it. He always said that the day you stop questioning will be the day you stop learning. I looked up at him. Every time something happened, I went to him. Now that he is gone, it hurts. I really wished he would have been here, he would have something to cheer me up. My sobbing became louder and louder. I cannot wake up Aub or tell Dylan or Mom about this. So I did the thing no seven-year-old would ever think. I ran away. Away from home.

Hey guys, this was his story. Don't worry it is remaining. You will know how they met in the next chapter. What do you think about Paul? Do you think what Bug did was brave?

Comment, vote and share. It is just a work of a minute for you guys but it means the world to me.

Until then,
Nishi.