Over the edge

chapter three

Remembering  that always brought a smile to his  face, and now  was no different.

He was still on his balcony and could see the sun rising. People had started their  activities for the day. Some were running and jogging,  others were taking their kids to school , talking to them . They were  either smiling or laughing. He felt a pang in his chest.

He could say it was not fair but he knew better.

It  was his fault. He couldn't blame anyone else for his mistakes. He did it and now, he was suffering the consequences.

Another cigarette done, he walked into the house. He wanted to try and lie down for a bit.

The television  was on, tuned to  some channel he didn't know. He barely watched anything there. He had bought it for Philip, his son.

A sigh  involuntarily left his mouth. How he missed the boy. He still had two weeks before he saw him.

He switched it off .

Walking to his room, he passed by his philip's room.

He went in and sat at the bed. It smelt like him. He looked at the photo near the bed. It was of  him, Lauren and philip in Hawaii, four years ago.

He had genuinely been happy and was smiling. With his son, he never cared about anything or anyone else . It was always them against the world.

A lone tear escaped his eye.

Why?

He ruined it  all.

Flashback....

"Daddy, are we really going to Hawaii?" An excited philip asked his dad.

"Of course  we are. I  know  how much you wanted to go on the midterm." Eric said.

"Thank you daddy. I'm  going to pack."

The boy ran out of the room, squealing and beaming with happiness.

"Babe, you don't  have to do this."
Lauren said as she came out of the bathroom.

"Honey, we talked about this. I  will come because  I  haven't  spent quality time with you and Philip. Now, finish  getting  ready we're heading to the airport in half an hour. " He said and kissed her on the cheek.

They had arrived almost two weeks ago and it was almost time to head back. Eric had one  more thing to do before leaving. 

He had planned it before coming here.

That evening, they left philip with other kids to enjoy himself. He led Lauren to a secluded spot on  the beach which  he'd discovered a few years back.

There  was a rock that made it a bit  more private as one couldn't  see behind it from afar.

As he had requested, there was a picnic blanket  and a bottle of champagne . He told Lauren to sit and he took out the small box, and opened it.

She gaped and covered her mouth.

"You didn't have to," she  said.

He looked at her and said,
"This is my promise to you that I  will change. I  want us to stop all thos fighting. I  want us to try to be better from now on. "

She didn't talk. She just nodded.

He took out the diamond ring in the box and slid it into her finger.

Then, doves  were released and he kissed her.

That evening they made love on the beach, with the promise of a new beginning.

End of flashback....

He had promised her but he broke his promise.

Like always.

Anothe tear left his eyes and he slept on his son's bed, crying while holding on to the picture.

The reminder of  broken promises.