Will there eve be a day when I can let my guard down and enjoy life as it is?

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"I'm home."

He called out in a cheery voice,
only to have his joy crushed by reality—
again.

"Where have you been? It's half past six. You'd better not tell me you did something wrong, or else."

His mother's stance showed that she was ready to strike him at any time.

"We were given extra projects, so I finished them at school. I already ate, so I'll do the dishes."

He replied nonchalantly.

He went up first to change, then went back down to do the dishes.
On normal days, he wouldn't voluntarily do the dishes—
but he needed time to think right now.

Did she really mean what she said?
Why did I open up so easily?

He thought of a thousand reasons to these questions,
but none of them clicked.

Doubts, distrust, uncertainty,
flooded his mind again.

Then he heard another voice in his head, satirical :
Take what is as it is. There's no harm in trying right? After all, you've been through so much, you emotionless freak.