We Are Almost Home

I. Shattered Home of Resentment

The characters and events in this story are fictitious. Any similarities to real persons, living or dead, are purely coincidental. This story contains themes of emotional detachment, anxiety, foul language, and sex, which some readers might find upsetting or harmful. Reader discretion is advised.

The house I used to live in filled the four pillars of our house with yelling and physical abuse.

My mother threw our ceramic plates, plastic cups, and utensils at my older brother as she yelled. "When will you realise that you are an irresponsible imbecile!" She expressed such anger towards my brother simply for coming home late because of homework.

I barged in and begged my mother to stop yelling and throwing things at my brother. She scoffed sarcastically and glared at me like I would be her next target. She yelled once again.
"Shut up! You are as useless as your stupid brother!" as her tears rolled down her cheeks.

Ever since my father left us, my mom has no longer been the same. Her resentment towards our father, who left, reflected towards us. She worked two jobs just to keep the house afloat while figuring out why our father left.

My brother eventually decided to work as a delivery driver instead of going to college. My mother would keep on interrogating my brother about his salary earnings and would complain that it was never enough.

Ten years later, our long-distant uncle Ben helped my older brother Elian get into a prestigious school. Four years later, my mother cried while saying that she was proud of my brother for finishing college.

My brother ignored her fake cries and words that didn't convey warmth. He walked up to me, ruffled my hair, and promised, "Dove, now that I have graduated and finished school, I want you to finish college as well. Make me proud. I will be here along the way to uplift you in any way I can. I love you, Mireille." And he smiled.

After finishing college and with the help of my brother and uncle, I passed my engineering licensure examination. I also took a route to law and passed it as well.

On a warm and starry night, I stared into my bedroom ceiling and said to myself, "Gone are the days of abuse." 

[End of Chapter]