quietly leaving the room to not wake the girl, i walk towards my mother cooking dinner in the kitchen.

as she hummed a tune that she sung to me as a child, my mind wandered as my eyes searched around the kitchen,
expecting the usual objects being in their place.
the chairs being neatly tucked in, and the plates and kitchenware in their usual places.

looking over to the living room near the front door,
i see-

"hello sweetheart"
my mother said, interupting my thoughts.
i jolt a bit, looking towards her,
as her sweet expression turned worried in a matter of seconds.
"oh, did i scare you honey?"
she replied as she wiped her hands on a towel.

"i-i just got surprised m-miss...."
i replied straightening my stance
her eyes fixated on mine, having a sort of glare only i could love,

"you can call me mom sweety, he's not here until 8:30"
mother said with a sweet tone,
i nod while she got back to cutting carrots.
each cut being evenly matched with eachother.
clean cuts the whole way through the vegetable one more in line to be cut rhythmically,
stopping in between a cut, i glance at her as her eyes glide to meet mine.

"can you bring me the box on the table honey?"
i glance toward the table noticing the small white box that hid behind a vase and some towels.
picking up the small box with a red ribbon, inspecting what could be in the rectangular box, i hand it to my mother.
as her eyes inspect the box with content, her hollow eyes then glaring into mine.

"you might be curious on what's in here"
she said while her hand hovered over the ribbon, a small smile appearing on her lips.
i nodded slowly as she gestured for me to open the box.
"that's why i think you should open it sweetheart"

my eyes grew wide when seeing how urged she was to want me to see the gift.
my tips of my fingers gripping the ribbon slightly, curious to see what my mother had gotten me.
i tug at the the ribbon slightly.

before a small noise fills the room,
a tall strong man appearing in the doorway,
worried to what'd he'd say to the gift my mother had gotten me, i look back to see it gone.
had i just hallucinated?
my mother's eyes grew with anger when he appeared in the room.

"welcome home honey, me and vee we're just making dinner"
my mother said hiding what she felt about him, my father walking towards the room.

"hm.. i thought he was coming hone later, well... i heard your sister was having trouble sleeping. can you check on her?"
my mother went back to cutting carrots, the box no where in sight.
i walked towards the small bedroom opening the door quietly expecting a sleeping girl.

"hey vee..."
the girl spoke softly rubbing her eyes adjusting to the light coming from the living room.

"are you still tired?"
i replied to her sleepy reaction, suddenly gaining energy she jolts up.
"maybe later...but not right now!"
she said with a big smile spreading across her face.
a smile tugs onto my lips as she enthusiastically talks about the dream she had, suddenly gaining a worrisome expression and tone.
"is he home...? d-d-did he hurt you?"

"yes, he came home but he didn't hurt me so you don't have to worry, mom is waiting for you in the kitchen. tell her about that dream you had, i bet she'll be interested."

the sweet girl nodded as she walked towards the kitchen, explaining the dream she had to my mother. just loud enough for me to hear the enthusiasm in her voice.
sighing i lay down on top of the covers of my bed, slowly drifting off to sleep.

the heard nothing other than my quiet breaths.