#mever taking him for granted again

[winxys]

BROWN HAIR SUPREMACY YEAH THAT'S RIGHT!!

[bulbastory-blog]

Prompt: In Traditional “Will You Press the Button” Fashion, there is a consequence to any benefit you would receive.___ One morning you receive superpowers out the blue, later realizing that your dad pressed a button that grants him and the person he hates most in the world extraordinary powers.

A loud scream pierced through the house, into the walls of my room. I shot awake and jumped up out of bed. The scream unmistakenly came from my mother, but I have never heard such fear in it. I throw on the closest jumper to me, to cover myself up. I then run to the door. I shoot down the stairs, not noticing how quickly I was moving.

In the Kitchen, I find my mother by the hob and next to her my father, standing with a flame in his hand. “It’s okay Honey, I asked for this. I’m just going to light the hob for you, then you can start breakfast.”

“okay?... But David? You’re holding fire!”

“Mum? Are you okay?” My mum jumps back, banging herself on the breakfast island. “Fuck! Where did you come from?” she rubs her back, and my father bursts into laughter. I can’t remember ever seeing him laugh. “Dad?” I stared at his hand, it has only just dawned on me he was holding an open flame. His face suddenly went stern and he clenched his fist, the flames dispersing at the same time. 

“This isn’t your problem. Me and her are talking, get dressed and go out.”  As usual, he is trying to dismiss me, I came to the conclusion at a young age that he doesn’t like having me around.  

I turn around and begin to leave, arguing is pointless even with something so extraordinary happening. It would cause more problems for my mother and me.

I slowly climb the stairs to my room, I leave the door open and begin to scout for clothes. All that is going through my head is how he was able to hold that flame. He has been out a lot lately, maybe he learnt some magic? That has to be it! 

As I contemplate how he performed the magic, I begin to hear their loud discussion, I couldn’t make out words but I knew it was closer to an argument than a conversation. I try to block it out, a “discussion” at this level is normal and nothing to worry about. Being awake so early, I’m tired and think something easy to wear is the best option, so some jeans and a hoody is the best option. Nice and comfy. 

I wish I could disappear into these clothes. ignore the world and have the world ignore me. Life would be so much easier if I could just hide for a while. While sighing, I walk to the door. Their “discussion” is still happening, so in an attempt to hear it, I head to the neighboring living room. 

“I TOLD YOU!”“ he shouted, there was a pause and he continued “There was this button. I pressed it and now I have these awesome powers, like a fuking superhero” he chuckles to himself. 

“I don’t understand...”

“Then listen to ME. You AREN’T FUCKING LISTENING TO ME!”

“I am, I promise, I just don’t get why a button would just give you powers?” she remained calm, even while he was clearly losing his temper and becoming impatient. But then I heard his loud sigh, his angry sigh. Then SMASH. 

“Look what you made me do” he was eerily calm at this moment, I felt a shiver go down my spine. I begin to move to the kitchen to check everything is okay, but then I hear him slam the kitchen door and he storms into the living room. Rushing backward, as not to get in his way I knock the sofa. He looks at where the knock happened but turns away and sits in his spot. I sit in my chair, on the other side of the room in the corner. As long as I stay quiet, there shouldn’t be an issue. 

“Is it clean yet?” he calls through to the kitchen. Then the sound of glass being swept up and thrown in the bin can be heard. He begins to play with the fire in his hand igniting it and then putting it out. under his breath, he mutters “stupid bitch.” I stare at him, he always makes mean comments, usually to himself.

Raising his voice “Now if I get angry things go flying, literally. You’ve got to be more careful.” He spat the last words out like he was talking to a dog. My mum carefully walks into the room, clearly trying to hold back tears. She doesn’t like crying in front of anyone, it used to just get her in more trouble with her family and now her partner.  

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know...”

“It’s okay, come here.” he gestures for her to come over for a hug, he then holds on to her. “This is a blessing, we have more options now. I can do better now.”

“I know baby, thank you. I love you.” 

I sigh, how can she just put up with this? She should stick up for herself. She forgives him too quickly. 

“What was that?” my mum pulls her head away and looks around, she doesn’t seem to see me. Then my dad pushes at her thigh, “There’s nothing there.” she catches her balance, gets up and sits next to him. 

I choose to stay quiet, clearly, he doesn’t want me to talk, and it’s easier to just stay silent. Children shouldn’t be seen or heard.

“I should probably mention, there is one cost to pressing the button. No big deal though.” 

My mum looks worried and begins to panic “We can’t afford that. I don’t work and your job isn’t enough. You just bought parts for your car and the budget is always...”

“SHUT UP.” My mum closes her mouth and lowers her head. “It’s not that kind of cost, and you don’t need to worry about money anyway cause you don’t make shit.” she makes a quiet apology. “Anyway... by pressing the button, I got these powers. But it also gave powers to the person I hate the most.”

My mum looks at him shocked, then she looks at her hands, opens and closes them clearly concentrating. “It’s not you.” Again he spat the words out like he was talking to something worthless. He probably didn’t want to waste the energy hating her. “I put up with you.” he does his mean chuckle, so then he can act like it was a joke when you can see in his eyes that he means it. “Of course I love you.” His words sounded scripted and forced. 

“who?” she asked quietly again, not sure if she should speak. 

“I assume it’s my boss, I hate that cunt, and he’s old as fuck, probably one foot in the grave, so he won’t be an issue. Probably have a heart attack when he realizes he got them.” he chuckled 

“What a horrible thing to say” 

“Who asked you?” he spat the words out instinctively, it was then that I realized I had made my mental comment out loud. 

They both look around, neither seeing me. “Where are you, you trouble maker.” 

At this point I lost my temper, “I’M SAT RIGHT HERE. I’M HERE. I’M ALWAYS HERE”

“Stop messing around and come out you coward”

“I AM HERE” I stand to make it obvious, how can he still ignore me when I am here. My mum then screams like she did first thing this morning. Then I look around and see the room shaking. My dad’s face is full of fear. My mum then breaks the silence, the room stops shaking “Y-Y-You...Just....A-A-Appeared.” she looks like she has seen a ghost. 

“YOU?” His face turns from fear to rage. “But? I?...” he takes a pause and then stands staring at me with such hate. “GET OUT.” 

“what?” my mum slowly comes to the realisation of what he said. she looks between me and him. 

“LEAVE MY HOUSE”

Mum then stands up and faces him, “YOUR HOUSE? DAVID, THAT IS OUR CHILD?” I stand, like a deer in headlights, I have never seen my mum stand up to him like this. “WE ARE NOT THROWING OUT OUR CHILD!”

“YOUR CHILD”  He snaps back. “I MEVER WANTED ANY OF THIS. I NEVER WANTED THAT KID. THAT KID RUINED MY LIFE. YOU WANTED IT, NOT ME, BUT I’M THE ONE THAT HAS PAID FOR IT EVER SINCE.”

My mum’s body language changed, she was no longer on the attack, she became small again. “David? You said you wanted a family with me.” 

“YOU WOULDN’T SHUT THE FUCK UP ABOUT IT. I WANTED YOU TO STOP NAGGING. I WANTED TO KEEP YOU QUIET.”

“David?”

“YOU JUST NEVER GAVE IN. EVEN WHEN YOU SAID YOU WOULD LEAVE YOU NEVER FUCKING DID AND I HAD TO PUT UP WITH IT. AND IT ALL ENDED IN THAT.” he pointed to me “THAT KID IS A PRISON SENTENCE.”

“mum?” she looked so hurt, she turned to me. I think she had forgotten I was in the room. She then turned back to him, stepped forward slightly “I love You.”

He sniggered and quietly said “Your mistake.” 

I couldn’t take it anymore, “ARE YOU SERIOUS? YOU ARE JUST GONNA ACCEPT THAT. HOW CAN YOU LOVE HIM?”

They remembered I was here. He pointed to me “GET OUT.”

Then suddenly I am in my room, I can feel tears rolling down my face. when did I start crying? I brushed them away. He hates me more than anything? I know he’s a dick and he treats me like shit, but he’s my dad? I just thought he didn’t like kids or didn’t like me. I didn’t think he hated me. Parents are supposed to have unconditional love for their parents... aren’t they? I have to go. I grab a bag from the back of the door and start grabbing clothes and chargers and anything meaningful and important to me. Speeding around the room, I create burn marks in the carpet.

Then I hear them leave the living room and start storming up the stairs. 

“Why is this only coming out now David? 15 years together?”

“It was all below the surface, I just kept my mouth shut.” There was still anger in his voice but he seemed to have calmed down considerably. Maybe, they would let me stay?

“Why didn’t you just break up with me, if you were so unhappy?” 

His sigh came through like a tsunami, “ WHAT WOULD PEOPLE SAY? THEY ALL THINK YOU ARE PERFECT FOR ME. AND YOU WOULD JUST GO AND GOSSIP WITH THEM ALL. YOU JUST WOULDN’T GET THE MESSAGE AND LEAVE, I CHEATED ON YOU 7 TIMES AND YOU STILL TOOK ME BACK.”

“But why not end it yourself?” 

“I’M NOT GONNA BE THE ONE LOOKING LIKE A DICK”

“WELL, YOU LOOK LIKE A DICK NOW DAVID!”

There was a pause, they must be outside my room at this point. “WELL, WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT IT, WHAT CAN ANYONE DO ABOUT IT NOW?” The house starts shaking as if there is an earthquake happening. I then I hear some bangs and then a loud hard thump. 

Bag in hand, I rip the door off the hinges and throw it down the hall. “MUM?” At the bottom of the stairs lies my mum, crying and in a slump. He is walking down towards her. 

“WELL, WHAT CAN YOU DO? YOU ARE TRAPPED LIKE ME. YOU ONLY HAVE ME. YOU’RE FAMILY WON’T TAKE YOU BACK, YOU CAN’T WORK. WHAT ARE YOU ACTUALLY GONNA DO?” He raises his fist and goes to hit her. Instead, he hits a large invisible wall, protecting my mum from his fists. He goes to hit again and again hits the wall. 

“DON’T TOUCH HER” I scream. 

I then appear behind her, I lift her up off the floor and take her hand leading her to the door. He just stands there watching, he can’t touch us. He then starts making the fire in his hand again, playing, taunting. 

We get to the door, that I have opened and then she stops walking. “Mum?” I feel so weak and defeated at this point, I don’t want to hurt her, I just want her to come. 

“I have no one. I can’t go.”

“You have me.” we both talk quietly and we both sound tired. She lifts her head and looks me in the eyes. 

“You’re too young. you can’t help your self, how are you supposed to help me?”

I drop her hand, “but...mum? we can’t stay here.” she takes a step back, “you said... mum... you said if he ever hit one of us you would leave with me, you promised.”

“I love him.... You don’t understand now but you will. “

She grabs the door. 

“I CAN’T HELP YOU IF YOU AREN’T WILLING TO HELO YOURSELF. MUM. You don’t deserve this. Mum?” She slowly begins to close the door, tears falling down her face. But her face was emotionless. 

“I’m sorry, but you have to go. “ 

She then closed the door on me.