I Promise

When I come in from school, I kick a beer can and I notice my drunk uncle on the couch, who drank himself to a slumber. I call this shack. This shack that once belonged to my beautiful mom, this shack where she was murdered. Now, it's filled with beer cans and fear. But that fear belongs to me, not Charlie. I make sure of it. Charlie is my life. He's the only reason I'm alive and haven't committed suicide. I didn't even try once. I lay on the sheet cover the queen sized bed which I share with my Charlie, glancing at the sun peering in through the dirty window and smile. This definitely isn't a mansion, but it's a sense of protection for Charlie. I sit on the bed, and begin my homework. I glance at the time on the clock on the old half broken side table, 3:30, ten minutes til Charlie is off the bus. Donnie, my drunk uncle, awakes a little, and demands I get him in and to leave him the fuck alone. I comply, hardly any want of fighting left in my body. When he comes in, I help him with his homework I take him into the bathroom to let him bathe. He grew up so fast. I get him some macaroni and cheese, his favorite and I bring him for bed. We always talk for about an hour, so I try to get him in there for 7, so he can be asleep for 8. That's our routine. Tonight though. Tonight it's different. Tonight, he asks a question that I should have know was coming.
"Hey sissy?" He asks with a pitch in his voice so sweet, yet questioning.
I could sense it coming. I swallow at the lump of anxiety in my throat.
"Yeah baby?"
"When are momma and daddy gonna come back? I just want to meet them once. So we can be happy. So you can be happy sissy."
"They'll be here soon enough." Pain tears at my heart with that lie. I know with everything in my body they ain't coming back.
"Everything is gonna be better." I ruffle his hair, and I see his face a little, thinking.

"There's always a rainbow of happiness after a storm. The storm could last for days at a time, but there is always a rainbow baby. It'll be better for you. For us. I promise."