It was getting dark, the sky was now a navy blue. Only a few clouds were visible in the darkness but Lewis didn't notice. He held his toy dinosaur in his hands making it stomp on the Lego city he had made. His mum was still out with her boyfriend, some fancy dinner or something. His uncle Alan had taken charge of the house but it was quiet. Lewis hadn't heard anything from his uncle for a while now. It was kinda lonely. He was probably asleep downstairs. Still the silence was unsettling. Lewis heard something soft fall on the floor. He turned his head to see Benjy on the floor, a teddy bear Lewis has had since he was four. He was a comfort to Lewis, a source of light when he couldn't see, a friend when he had no one else.
"What is it Benjy?" he whispered to the toy.
Even though he didn't reply, Lewis knew Benjy wanted to say something. His silence said a lot.
"Is something wrong?"
That's when he heard it. The tap in the bathroom was on, dripping small droplets into the sink. His mum would be angry if she found it on.
"Should we take a look?"
Lewis picked the bear up and wandered into the hall. It was so quiet. He tip toed across the hall to the bathroom door. It felt wrong to be here, like he shouldn't be going inside. But Lewis didn't want to upset his mum by leaving the tap so he took a deep breath and slowly opened the door. And what he saw changed everything. His uncle hanging from the shower pole, his body limp and lifeless. It swung back and forth. A cold numbness filled Lewis's body, his legs feeling suddenly weak. He stepped towards the tub and peered inside. A piece of paper lay on the cold surface, it had his mums name on it.
Mandy,
I know you'll be super pissed off at me for leaving you but it had to be done. You tried your hardest to understand me and my fucked up head but you never figured me out and I'm sorry for that. It was a tough decision to make but it was the best thing for me and you. I sometimes wish I had settled down like you, had my own children like you. When I see Lewis, I see how lucky you are. He's a bright, young boy who will grow into someone extraordinary but sadly I won't be here to see it happen. Consider yourself an only child now.
Love you in life and death,
Alan.
Lewis dropped the letter into the bathtub and fell to the floor, shaking. Tears were falling from his eyes, how could he just die? He stared up at the long rope wrapped around his neck. He wished the door would open and his mum would rush in and wrap him up in a massive hug. He couldn't hear his own sobs anymore only the dripping of the tap.
