Short Story Collection

Silence

I could not remember when it happened; it was far too long ago. Perhaps time took a toll on those unpleasant recollections. Perhaps, my mind simply did not wish to linger in the moments where dread had its hold on me for any longer. All I know is that I was young; still a young and innocent boy who believed in my happily ever after.

The beginning of this treachery begun at night, when I was sweetly in slumber, and was awakened by noise no child deserves to hear.

I heard Daddy's shouts. He used to tell me bedtime stories, in that low voice of his.

"The wolf howled in rage and ran away, never to be seen again," He read. I always loved this tale and repeatedly chose it when story-time came. I was nestled in his lap, wearing my Power Rangers pyjamas. His warm hand patted my head. "Would you like to read the ending to me, Little Bing?" He asked me in Mandarin.

I nodded earnestly, and put in the best effort to impress him, "From that day on, Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother lived happily ever after." I narrated, and squealed with joy. Daddy laughed.

But at that very night, his gentle voice was menacing. It was like the Big Bad Wolf had replaced him in my parent's room.

"Oh you are sickening. Have you ever cared how hard I worked to earn that money?"

"And so that means you can betray your family going out with another woman?" Mummy retorted.

Mummy, who walked me to school every weekday. Mummy, who asked me how many fluffy clouds I saw floating in the blue sky. Mummy, who always held my hand when I come sobbing to her that people had bullied me, telling me, "You are my brave little boy, and nothing is going to change that."

That same voice who praised me was then used to insult Daddy.

I did not like it. No, I hated it. I want Mummy and Daddy together, forever. They promised me that. Why were they fighting? And breaking that promise.

I clutched my plush puppy to my chest, and held him there. The

night was suddenly cold, and the rain poured mercilessly outside. I whispered to Puppy that we will be okay, that Mummy and Daddy would both wake us up tomorrow with bright smiles on their faces. But if even I could not believe it, how could a little toy be convinced?

I willed myself to squeeze my eyes shut, and huddled under my blanket, trembling. I started to sing, "Rain, rain, go away, come again another day."

Thunder crashed.

~++~

Morning came. It was a Friday.

I got up myself. It was drizzling outside, but the previous downpour left the air chilly and unbearably thick. Silence, not Mummy and Daddy, was at my bedside to greet me. He seemed to be laughing, taunting me with his eerie stillness. Is nobody at home?

Making my way to their bedroom, I checked, expecting to see Daddy putting on his tie, getting ready for work, and Mummy making the bed. But no. There was not anyone in the house... but me.

The air was stale, like they have not been there for a long time. A grey ray of light was cast through the gap between drawn curtains, barely illuminating the room.

A hollow, empty feeling sunk deep in my stomach. I had never felt so lonely. Why was I by myself? I decided that Daddy might have left for work earlier. What about Mummy? She doesn't go to work. She should be here, at home, making breakfast for me.

As I pondered, I recalled yesterday night's fight. A wretched feeling engulfed me. Did Mummy really...?

I picked up the phone and dialled her number, but she did not pick up despite the several times I tried.

Overwhelmed with this conclusion and a sudden urge to see her to prove my suspicions false, I took Puppy, and scrambled for the key out of the house. Maybe if I went downstairs and shouted for her to come back, she would.

I plodded into the void deck dressed in noting but my thin pyjamas. The morning chill bit into my skin, nipping at me like ice fairies' teasing pokes.

Placing my hands to my face, I hollered for Mummy. But Silence was there once again, mocking me, and having a great deal of fun out of it.

The empty pavements and the road scarce with cars only made my situation worse. Loneliness crept up with me like the previous time, but harsher, and more unbearable. If only Mummy and Daddy were here to hear my problems, and hold my hand in their big ones.

I wanted to cry, to scream, to shout in frustration, and possibly throw a tantrum. But I knew, like Mummy said, tantrums would not get me anywhere, but made me a "Xiao Huai Dan" which means "Little Naughty Child". And I did not want to be naughty. Naughty children do not get toys, or hugs, for that matter.

The wind grew relentless, clawing at me, letting its coldness sink into me, to merge with the emptiness of Mummy leaving me here, alone. When will she be back? Later, or... never?

Suddenly, I saw her. She was there, clad in her beige shawl, with her hair tied back into a bun as usual. The relief I felt was so evident, I ran to her without caring.

"Mummy!"

I slammed into her body, breathing in the faint smell of her perfume. It was so comforting, so nice...

"Little Bing, why aren't you inside?" She asked, but it was nowhere near chiding. It felt as though her energy has been sapped from her, and she could not muster enough to rebuke me.

"I thought you were never coming back." I replied.

"Well, I did, didn't I?" She smiled, but it did not crinkle the corners of her eyes like it did whenever I showed her a new picture of our family. "Let's go home now."

While we were making our way to the elevator, I asked, "So did you send Daddy to work, that's why you left me alone?"

Her face turned stony. It was scary. For the first time my mother's cheerful face was devoid of any emotion. I wanted to pull the old Mummy back, but I could not seem to find her, no matter how far I grasped.

"Daddy," She smiled tightly. "Daddy is not at work now,"

"Then where is he? Is he coming back for dinner? He hasn't finished Goldilocks and the Three Bears yet, and he said he will finish it tonight."

"Well, certain people choose to leave behind the people who love him most." And then, tears sprang from her eyes, and down her suddenly sallow cheeks.

I wanted so badly to continue questioning, but I knew something went wrong. Horribly, horribly wrong. And Mummy and I were helpless to stop it from invading the doors of our hearts, and swallowing us from the inside.

Silence stretched long, hard, and painful...

~++~

All characters and events in this story, other than those clearly in the public domain, are fictatious, and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved.

Author's Note

Silence is witten in the context of mordern Singapore. Inspired by real life events. This story is entirely fictional. To my sister, Gwen, for being the first person who read it, and Alex, for being too encouraging it hurts. Thank you, for helping me no matter how short this story is.