Mirage (ON HOLD for revision)

Chapter 23: Responsible 'Adults'

  A little over six years ago

The calls would come in late at night, around noon where Sonia and Robert are. Regardless, Matt would always be there to pick it up, sitting at the top of the stairs with the door to his room where Mari sleeps left open. It was almost as if they time the calls, exactly five minutes after 11p.m. The phone rang.

“Hello, Matt.”

It was Robert. It was almost always him on the other end placing the five minute call. Before they hung up, he would always pass it to Sonia with just enough time for a hello and goodbye.

“Hi, dad,” Matt replied.

Even if they tried, no one would have been able to hear him, since he was already used to speaking in a low, soft voice akin to passing winds.

“How was today?” Robert asked.

It has been six months since he and Sonia left to seek medical treatment overseas. There wasn’t even a discussion about taking Matt and Mari since they all understood that it was impossible. First, they had school. And even if they were to transfer, it would be impossible to take Mari because they still haven’t changed her last name. She wasn’t considered a part of the family. To take the children would mean only ‘Matt, leaving Mari behind. It was out of the question.

“Better,” Matt replied, instinctively looking over his shoulder towards his room.

Things were just starting to go from good to better, too.

Several months after Mari started living with them, she finally started talking, which is mostly yes, no and maybe one word response to questions. It was a huge development considering that no one could talk to her except Matt before. She even started saying a little more. Her face showed a hint of smile when something amusing happens, and her eyes had a dull glimmer of life.

After a year away from whatever monsters she had lived with in the past, it could be argued that Mari has become completely normal, except she still doesn’t respond to her own name. It could be argued that they have become a normal family, no matter what everyone else gossiped behind their back. Until Sonia fell ill.

She understood too well that Matt was stuck at home when he should be by his mother’s side because of her. And soon after Matt’s parents left, she retreated back into her shell. It took two weeks before Matt could coax her to talk again.

“Take care of your sister, ok?” Robert said wearily, a tone Matt has been hearing a lot more often lately.

“How’s mom?” Matt asked simply, not pressuring Robert to answer.

“Better.”

They were father and son after all.

“She’s sleeping now, though. So, I can’t put you through,” Robert added hastily.

“It’s ok. Just give her a kiss from me and Mari,” Matt replied.

“I will.”

A dead silence hung between them, traipsing over the cables bringing voices from thousands of miles away right to their ears.

“Also, dad…”

“What is it, Matt?”

“You don’t have to call every day,” Matt managed to say with his eyes screwed shut. “You should also get some rest when mom is resting.”

More silence.

“Thanks, Matt,” Robert said, and Matt could detect just a little less than better in his voice.