He's Just A Kid

That night was a very heart-wrenching one. How can someone do this to him? He's just a kid. No more than that. But the people around him, that matters the most to him, is now turning their backs against the poor boy. 

It was supposed to be a normal holiday trip. That morning he went swimming. He seldom did, when you think about it. He's relatively larger than other kids, so being only in swimming trunk and topless seems a bit embarrasing. Then his parents and he went for a drive around the city. H'es just a kid, so that was about it. A normal trip.

That night, everything went wrong. His mum went mad, throwing stuffs at his dad. World War II looked a bit cleaner. Luckily his sister was asleep. If not, things might get worse for both of them. Curses upon curses flew from both, blaming each other for not being who they ought to be. He thought, who's the adult and who's the kid at this point?

He remained at the balcony. Being in that room felt like hell to him. How can this happened? What went wrong? He's just a kid. Nothing can make him understand more than what he should. Suddenly, everything went quite. His dad opened the sliding door that seperates the room and the balcony.

'I have to go. After we go home, I'm not going to live there anymore,'

'But why? Why can't you stay with us?'

'Your mum doesn't want me to. I just can't. Look, I'll visit you once in a while,'

'How often? When? Will you come inside?'

'I can't come inside,'

'Well how are you going to teach me stuffs on the computer?? Please come inside the house when you visit,'

'Okay2 I will, but I can't stay with you guys,'

Imagine how sad he was at that time. The people that he loved the most, are now on the brink of seperation. If only he can do something, anything. But that's it, he's just a kid. Trying to be normal but failing at each attempt. He can't imagine his life ahead. It must felt alone, he thought. But life must go on, for nothing should stop him from living. He was so tired that he fell asleep in the middle of the ongoing shouts.

The next morning, things started to cool down. His eyes are wet from the tears he shed. His dad was sitting at the corner of the bed. 

'What happen, mum?'

'I don't know. We're going back. Pack your stuff,'

'Is dad going away after this?'

'I don't know. He said he's going to change,'

'Means he's not going?'

'I don't know,'

They went back that morning after. It's not an easy journey for all of them. But they certainly are trying. It happened a long time ago, but that boy hasn't forgot even a single second of that night. It haunted him many years afterwards. But he has learn to forgive. He doesn't blame anyone for what has happened. He just wanted someone to understand what he's gone through.

This story is inspired by an episode from Oprah Winfrey Show. It's written based on a true story, told by a friend of a friend of mine.