The Perfect Match in Every Verses

Chapter 5 Pieces of home

As I arrived home, I could feel the heavy atmosphere even before I stepped inside. I hadn't even put down my bag when I heard the loud shouting from within. "What are you thinking?! You can't do that without consulting me!" my mom, Emilie, yelled angrily. "You're not the only one who makes decisions here, Emilie!" my dad, Eduardo, retorted, his voice shaking with anger. I stopped at the door and took a deep breath. I was used to this kind of scene, but why did it feel like it hurt more each time? I didn't realize I had tightened my grip on my bag strap. I wanted to go straight to my room and escape this chaos, but a small hand grasped mine. "Ate..." It was Athen, standing by the stairs in his pajamas with his favorite stuffed toy, a small bear I gave him when he was younger. His face showed fear and confusion. I knelt down in front of him and held his hand. "Let's go to your room, okay?" I whispered. He nodded, but before we could move, the shouting in the living room grew louder again. "You always blame me, Emilie! Can't you see what you're doing wrong?!" "Wrong? You're the one who's always away! You're the one who's hardly home! Do you know how much I've changed?!" I looked at Athen, who remained silent, but I felt his hand trembling in mine. How many times had we witnessed this? How many times had I pulled him away from fights he shouldn't be hearing? I slowly stood up, holding him close. "Are they going to leave each other again?" he whispered. I felt a pang in my chest. What could I say? When I was younger, I believed love was enough to keep a family together. But as I grew older, I learned it took more than that – patience, understanding, and sometimes... sacrifice. But what if that's gone? Instead of answering, I stroked his hair and kissed his forehead. "Don't worry, Athen. I'm here." I felt him hug me tightly. "I don't want them to leave each other." I couldn't help but sigh weakly. Me too, little one. Me too. But I couldn't promise something I wasn't sure of. --- *The Unspoken Truth* The next day, the atmosphere at the dinner table was tense. My dad was busy reading the newspaper, while my mom stared blankly at her coffee cup. It felt like there was a huge gap between them. Athen clutched his stuffed toy, eating quietly. He didn't look at me, but I sensed his sadness. "I'm going to Lola's house later," my mom said suddenly. I looked at her. "Why, Mom?" She sighed. "I just need some rest." I knew what she meant. My dad cleared his throat. "Are you coming back?" Their eyes met, but no one answered. Until my mom stood up, took her bag, and said, "Lola will take care of you." I felt a lump in my throat. I wanted to stop her, but how? My dad stood up, approached my mom, and said, "Do we really need to go this far?" "You're the one who left first, Eduardo." And with those words, she walked out the door. My dad, Athen, and I were left behind. An uncomfortable silence filled the entire house. Later, my dad put his hand on my shoulder. "Take care of Athen, okay?" And for the first time, I felt scared. Our home, once filled with laughter, was now filled with silence. And I didn't know how to bring it back.