Mama was crying. I could hear it all from my bedroom. Glasses breaking. Nasty words from my Mama. My parents were fighting again. They fought about everything.. I just wish they could be happy.
"Mama.. Papa.. Can we please work it out? I promise that I'll be better.. I'll do anything! Papa please don't leave.." I mumbled. I went to the room where my parents fought. I wished Papa would stop yelling. I wished my papa would just hold my mama and they could be happy. But, I knew Papa was hurting from the things Mama yelled at him.
I want to run away, but I have no choice.. I have to stay in this World War Three. I'll never know what love would be this way.
"I promise.. I promise.."
I looked up at the portrait of our family on the wall. Happy. Can't we pretend to be like that? I don't want to split us up. I want us together. I don't want my Mama to change his name. I don't want a step brother. Can't we go back to that? Let's play pretend..
Papa went to the door, grumbling. He grabbed a bag, and walked out the door.
"Daddy! Daddy don't leave! Daddy don't leave.." I ran towards the door, crying. "I'll be better, Papa, Mama! I'll make sure Alfred is better too..! I'll be your little son forever and I'll sleep at night.. I'll be better.."
"Matthew? Matthew wake up, dear."
I opened my eyes and saw Mama and Papa at my bedside. My blankets were scattered around and they looked worried. I rubbed my eyes. Was it a dream?
"Are you alright, mon fils?" Papa asked me. He had his arm around Mama. I smiled and my vision became watery. I hugged them tightly. I knew they were confused, but they smiled and hugged me.
"Now now, don't cry, lad. It was just a dream," Mama assured me. I nodded and allowed the two of them to tuck me into bed. As they walked out I saw Papa kiss Mama's cheek. I would have been disgusted by this, but after that last dream, seeing Mama and Papa kiss was exactly what I wanted. I snuggled up under the blankets and closed my eyes. We did look like our family portrait after all..