**Diary Entry**
Dad left after discovering Mums affair with a colleague. A dreadful row erupted at home.
Dad walked out when he found out about Mums fling with a coworker. The house exploded with shouting.
*”What did you expect? Im always alone! Youre never herejust work, day and night. Im a woman, I need attention!”*
*”Oh, and whatll you say when I throw your precious Romeo in prison? Slap some charges on him and lock him up, eh?”* Dads voice was icy. He was a police officer.
*”You wouldnt dare! You wouldnt dare! Youve ruined everything!”*
Mum collapsed onto the sofa, sobbing. Dad gathered his few things and headed for the door. I stood frozen between the hall and the living room, ready to throw myself on the floor to stop him. How stupid! Wed always been a close, happy family. Mum and Dad never arguedthey shared the same jokes, the same laughter. Yes, Dad worked long hours, coming home exhausted, wanting only to sleep. But the moments we had together felt perfect. How could Mum throw it all away? And would Dad ever forgive her?
*”James, dont go,”* Mum begged, her hands trembling. *”Forgive me! Please dont leave. William, why are you just standing there?”*
I didnt move. At twelve years old, I still believed I could stop the end of everything I thought was good.
*”Will, let me pass,”* Dad said, his tone sharpthe voice he used at work, never at home.
*”Dont go!”* I whispered.
*”Move!”*
The same cold command.
*”Dad what about me?”*
He shoved me aside like a piece of furniture and stormed out. I think he left in a hurry to stop himself from doing something madnot just hitting Mum, but worse. He had his service pistol on him. His eyes burned with such rage that now, looking back, I understand why he had to go. That day, he became the man who pushed me away like a stranger. And Mumthe one who shattered our lives.
Of course, Romeo turned out to be worthless. He abandoned Mum as soon as Dad left. She was left alone, devastatedhusband gone, lover fled, son blaming her. And me?
I started staying out late, falling in with the wrong crowd. At first, it was petty theft. Then I grew bolder. We got caught mugging a rich kidnot for all his money, just what he had on him. He had security, and they nabbed me and Charlie. Dad, by then a chief at the Criminal Investigations Department, showed up at the station. Our surnameFaircliffewas uncommon, and someone recognized him.
*”Get out here,”* he said flatly.
*”Sod off!”* I hissed.
He dragged me from the cell.
*”What about Charlie?”* I yelled, struggling.
He hauled me into an interrogation room and slapped me hardtwice. Blood and tears streaked my face as my hatred for him grew.
*”How old are you?”*
*”What?”*
*”How old? Fifteen?”*
It felt absurd.
*”Congratulations! You dont even know your own sons age!”*
*”Because youre not mine!”* he shouted. *”I married Sarah already pregnant. Thought shed be a good wife. But she stayed”* He used a crude word.
*”Then who is?”* I asked, stunned.
He handed me a tissue and a bottle of water. I wiped my face. James sat across from me, exhausted.
*”Im sorry I hit you. But youve let me down. You think I dont have my own problems?”*
*”Then go deal with them,”* I muttered.
*”Will on paper, youre mine. I pay child support. But if you keep this upIll wash my hands of you. Jail? What do I care?”*
*”What happens now?”*
*”Now? Nothing.”*
*”And Charlie?”*
*”Charlies got his own familytheyll sort him. You worry about yourself. Fancy prison, do you? Its hellespecially for kids.”*
I didnt want jail. But life was unbearable, watching Mum crumble. So I distracted myself however I could. I told James that.
*”No ones making your choices for you. Either start living properlystudy, build a futureor keep messing about and end up with nothing. Dont want prison? Change. Youre free to go.”*
I walked toward the door. His voice stopped me.
*”And dont blame your mother. Divorce is never one persons fault. What I said about her I was angry. Forget it.”*
*”James Dad, did you love her? Could you ever?”* I asked hopelessly.
*”Forget that too, son.”*
The gang wouldnt leave me alone. I took a few beatings, carried bruises for weeks. But I got out. Charlie got probation thanks to his family and went back to his old ways. I made a different choice.
I forgave Mum. Tried my hardest. I wanted to know who my real father was, but I never askedno time for digging. School was a wreck; catching up took everything.
Now, standing in Dads office, his proud gaze on me, I finally understand. Life brought us back together in the end.
