"It'll be okay in the morning, Joey." Serenity smiled as Joey tucked the covers around her in her bed.

Joey looked into his sister's eyes, wanting to believe her. "I hope you're right, sis."

"Good night, Joey." Serenity said, her eyes closing and her mind slipping into dreamless sleep.

Joey smiled, then leant forward and kissed his sister's soft cheek. Then he stood up from the bed, took one last look at Serenity, and then switched off her light. He sighed as he closed the door gently behind him. Then he almost jumped in fright as he heard the front door open and then close again.

His father was back.

Joey quickly crept over to his room across the corridor and shut the door behind him. He sat on his bed for a moment, twiddling his thumbs nervously, as if waiting for something. Then he stood up and pressed his ear against the door. He heard his mother's tears again. But, this time, they were tears of happiness. He heard his mother and father talking; his mother's voice stifled by tears, his father's slurred by drink. Joey heard snatches of the conversation and immediately knew that it had happened again. She had forgiven him. Joey began to wonder why every time, when bad things were said and done, why every time his mother forgave his father, as if absolutely nothing had happened.

Joey moved away from his door, deciding he didn't want to hear the same conversation repeated for the millionth time. He walked over to his bed and just fell down on to it. He was so tired after all that had happened that day; he just lay down and went to sleep.