Broken hearts,Mended love

Mike Lukas was so excited to go home today, as they were all given special marks for the painting they did in school. Mike Lukas did his best to draw a perfect family picture like his, but in reality, his perfect family was about to crumble. He was more excited than ever in his whole childhood life as his grade teacher handed over his A+ painting, beaming with pride and prejudice, as one would likely say. It was finally time to go home as he rushed out through the school corridor. He didn't bother checking through his locker or picking up the rest of his books as he dashed through the school door excitedly. The teachers tried their best to calm the kids down, but the excitement of going home was all they had in mind. The distance from his school to his home wasn't a long walk, hence his going and coming back from school alone, but sometimes his mother walks him to school, and he takes pride in showing off his beautiful and loving mother to his friends at school. It was a small community, and the news was bound to spread like wildfire, so technically, you know the history of every family in that community as long as you've lived there for about six months or less. Mike’s parents weren't rich, but not exactly poor, but his father earned enough to feed them. But Selina, Mike’s mother, was the extravagant kind of wife; she was known to portray herself as what she wasn't. Carrying herself high. Selina married Mike’s father quite young, hence she still looked like a lady without a child. She took special care of her body and appearance. Selina most times leaves her home for days; if asked by her husband, she wages war against him. Blaming him for putting her in this position, she has always wanted an expensive life that her husband couldn't afford to give her. She kept on leaving home for days to come back to her family like nothing ever happened. This made Mike's father neglect his family but keep on providing for his son. Mike, who still loves his mother because she still takes special care of him whenever she is around, doesn't think too much about the surrounding happenings. The next week, she eventually came back after a three-day journey with top politicians and men of wealth. She came back with a new coat for her son to keep him warm for the winter. It brought joy to Mike’s heart as he drew a beautiful painting of a happy family. Mike’s father never for one made known to him all of his mother's atrocities, as he didn't want to make him feel dejected and worried, and his parents never for one fought in his presence, hence holding this happy family. If only Mike knew last night was going to be the last time he would see his mother, he would have stayed awake to follow her or to make her stay. His mother last night left with her new-found lover, who has been spending excessively on Selina and giving her the life she has always wanted. She couldn't stay with Mike’s father anymore, as she wanted a free life of luxury and partying. Mike walked up, half running and half walking, so he could get home on time to show his mother his beautiful painting. Upon getting home, he met an almost empty house, as everything was silent. Mike calls upon his mother. "Mom, Mom, I'm home." He walks down to his parent's room, but the sight before him breaks him. Mike’s father lay down flat on the floor, with a bottle of whiskey down to half the bottle. As Mike walks closer, he hears his father whimper. Dad, are you okay? Where is Mom? Dad, see my painting. His father didn't give him any cognizance, as he wallowed in his pain. Even though he kept on putting up with her excessive cheating, he still loved her. She didn't have to leave. Dad, where is mom? Why are you crying? Mike kneels before his dad tries to calm him down. "Your mom is gone, gone forever this time.". Mike, who seems not to understand what his father is saying, Where did mom go? Isn't she home? Has she traveled again? Mike kept asking his father questions; he seemed to need answers to them. But his father was in no state to respond, as he was mourning. A man who has lost a wife he so much loved has to cope with catering for his young son and work while still soothing his heartbreak. "Mike, leave me alone; just go to your room, okay?". Mike’s father shouted at him. Mike ran out of his parents' room with his painting as fast as he could. This wasn't how he planned his day after school to be. Mike sat in his room with no food in his stomach as he waited all night for his mother. He eventually went to sleep, only to wake up the next day. He woke up in an empty house with no one to make him breakfast. He went to the kitchen to check if his mom was back or if he'd made some cookies for him before she traveled. Mike, at this time, did not want to come to terms with the fact that his dear, beloved mother wouldn't be coming back anymore. He was able to salvage some cookies that he ate hurriedly. He took his bath and prepared for school, as he was used to doing that himself when his mother wasn't around. His mother was his everything; he loved her with all his heart and would do anything to see her smile, knowing fully well that she was never always around. But he loved her and loved every moment they spent together as a family. His father was always the one going out early and coming back late at night, but he never cared about that as long as his mother was there to take good care of him. His friends would always tease him for having a beautiful mother like Selena, and he would always smile proudly and say, "My mom is the best."