Regrets

Chapter 29 - Point Of No Return

Song: Point Of No Return - Kansas

Thomas slowly trotted down the stairs, still adjusting to the early morning hours. He was still in the middle of pouring himself a glass of water when his step-father stomped into the kitchen angrily.

"Why are you only up now?", the impatient voice of the tall man resounded in the room.

"It's barely six", Thomas yawned in response as he took a sip of water, trying to stay reasonable.

"Your lessons already started, your teacher is waiting", Mr Jenson reminded him angrily.

"It's only six! I can't even concentrate this early", Thomas tried to argue but his step-father wasn't listening anymore. It was only the second day he was home and he was already living in terror again.

Not having the energy to withstand the piercing glare of Mr Jenson any longer, Thomas began the walk to the library, where he was supposed to meet his teacher.

"Morning", he greeted the woman defeated as he sat down at a table, still in his pyjamas. But all hope for sympathy was lost when the woman spoke up with a voice so shrill, fingernails on chalkboard would be a blessing to his ears.

In an instant, Thomas stood up again and stormed out of the room, back to the kitchen where he found his step-father.

"I'm not doing this", Thomas stated provocatively, trying to initiate any kind of conversation.

"Not doing what? Go back to your lesson"

"No. I won't. You can't hold me here like cattle and then torture me like this. I won't play a part in it. Whether you like it or not, I'll go outside and meet my friends!"

"Thomas, stop being unreasonable-"

"Unreasonable?!", nothing could hold back the angry teen tirade now.
"You are fuckin unreasonable! All you ever care about is you, and the only time you bother with me is when I don't do what you want!"

"So you want more attention?"

"I don't want it from you. I want it from people that actually care!", Thomas was close to tears already. Even when he was insulting him, Mr Jenson wouldn't even blink an eye. To him, this was like a business deal.

"So everything is alright between us", Mr Jenson concluded and turned around, ready to start his trip to work.

"Nothing is alright!", Thomas cried helplessly.
"I don't want to stay here", he sniffed as he wiped the snot under his nose away with his pyjama's sleeve.

"Thomas", Mr Jenson's voice was thick with authority.
"You are required to live under my wing until you're eighteen. I will take care that you receive adequate education and physical necessities until then"

"So what about my fucking mental necessities?! Are you gonna deprive me of those?"

"You're a healthy boy", his step-father stated and Thomas finally broke under the pressure. With as much force as he could muster, he punched his step-dad in the stomach, causing the tall man to keel over, holding onto the aching spot instinctively and staying like that for a few brief moments that seemed like forever.

"I'm not!", Thomas screamed at the top of his lungs before he was silenced with the most deafening, head-snapping slap that ever rang through the house.

"You're going to attend your lessons now"

Thomas was still in shock as he numbly reached for the aching spot on his cheek. Slowly, he looked back up at Mr Jenson.

"I will provide for you until you're eighteen. Not a second longer", the businessman stated coldly as he straightened out his suit. With quick, unbothered steps, he left behind the shook up thirteen-year-old.

Thomas still hadn't fully comprehended the situation when the door falling close alarmed him of its reality.

He had just been disowned, and there was no way back now.