living or existing | mgc

four

Michael's POV.

"Oh my god, he's fucking crazy, Karen! Have you seen him? It's unbelievable!"

I hear daddy scream as I poke my head around the corner to see my mummy & daddy in the kitchen, arguing. I wonder what's going on.

My mummy has her fingers through her hair I'm frustration, and I watch her pace the kitchen as she boils.

"Why are we even having this conversation?!" My mummy shouts back.

"You're the reason why he's like this! He's fucking insane!" He screams, his arm stretching an extended finger out towards her face, pointing at her in agony.

I watch the two as they say a few more words, not entirely listening but looking at the physical actions that they make towards each other.

"Fine, Karen." Daddy says, snapping me back to reality. "I am fucking leaving. Good luck with that physco of a son that I never want to hear of again. Goodbye."

I sink to my knees against the wall, a single tear dropping down my cheek.

'Why was daddy saying that about me? Am I not good enough? Did I do something? Do I have to try harder? Is it because I'm still learning my time tables? I can work harder. I don't want daddy to leave me. I can't let him leave, he can't leave,'
I think to myself, and I stand up from the corridor and hurry into the kitchen.

Daddy is leaning down, zipping up his blue and white checkered suitcase, fuming to himself.

Obviously curious, I ask my mummy, who's sitting on the floor with her knees tucked to her chest, "Where's daddy going?"

Mummy lifts her head slowly and looks at me. Oh. Her face is tear-stained, like she's been crying, and there's a red mark the shape of a hand on her face, as if she's been slapped. Hard.

"Mummy, what happened to-" I begin to ask, but I see daddy staring at me. He looks angry and scary.

He takes a step towards me.

"Daddy, please don't hurt me," I whisper, crouching down to mummy's height and whimpering slightly into her hair.

"Michael," is all I hear him say, as I feel a curse of pain go through my whole body as I am hit numerous times.

---

I jolt awake. Cold sweat has taken over my whole body and my breathing is shallow.

'It was a dream,' I repeat over and over in my head as I take deep and heavy breaths.

And then I remembered.

I hold my breath as I stand up cautiously, gripping onto the steel sink in my aching hands.

'I have so much shit to clean up,' I think to myself as I turn on the shower. Thank god it's Saturday, I sigh as the warm shower water heats up my body.

---

Darby's POV.

I laughed as dad told me a joke, taking a sip of my fresh coffee. I love Saturdays, because dad always has the day off. I smiled at him as he flipped the bacon and eggs over on the pan.

As if on cue, my phone buzzed.

'NEW MESAGE'

I made a dinner reservation at an Italian pizza place for two. Be ready at 7
- James

I smiled at my phone. Today was going to be a good day.

---

I shaved my legs, (twice), had a shower, got dressed and did my make up. I couldn't decide how I wanted my hair to look, so I just straightened it and did some loose curls at the end as my phone buzzed against the makeup table.