Firstly, thank you to everyone who voted or left me a review stating your opinion. It was great to hear from everybody, and I had a real mix of answers.
I had to think hard about whether to submit the next chapter as it is or not, for several reasons. If you have read any of my other fics, you will probably have realised that I write very dramatic stories. The thing is, I don't mean for them to be as dramatic as they seem!
For example, the first two chapters of this story may appear exaggerated, as Kyle is beaten both times in them. I want to make it clear that he is not beaten regularly, but only when he has done something that (in his mother's eyes) warrants it, and that is not enough to make him emotionally damaged beyond return- The 'best' part about having been through it myself is knowing exactly how much a kid like Kyle can take- and that's a hell of a lot more than all those tear-jerking 'real life' stories of abuse and neglect.
Anyway, this next chapter (I will post it soon) yet again features Sheila 'disciplining' her son, but this will probably be the last chapter involving that sort of thing for a while. (Hopefully).
I hope you enjoy it, and I'd appreciate anything you have to say about it, whether it's good of bad. I'm always looking for ways to improve :)
Thanks.
Kaia