Finn's POV

17 years ago – '6 year old Finn'

The storm outside is angry, the thunder shaking the house so hard it rattles my bed. I clutch Mr. Dinosaur close to my chest, my heart racing. I slip out from under the covers, my small feet padding softly down the hall toward Mum and Dad's room.

The door creaks open as I push it, my voice trembling. "Mummy?"

Dad's sitting on the edge of the bed, the soft light casting shadows across his face. His eyes flick up from the paper in his hands. He's been crying—his eyes are red, but that can't be right. Dad doesn't cry.

"Finn?" he says, his voice low, thick. "Did the thunder wake you?"

I nod, clutching Mr. Dinosaur tighter. "Where's Mummy?"

Something flickers in his expression, and his eyes get shiny again, but he wipes them quickly, trying to hide it. "Mummy's not around right now."

"When is she coming back?"

He hesitates, his throat working like he's swallowing something hard. "Not anytime soon..."

I don't wait for the rest of his answer. I run. Down the hall, to the kitchen where she bakes her famous treats. To the coat closet where she keeps her jackets. But she's nowhere. She's gone.

Present Day

Seventeen years later, and that memory feels like a weight I've never quite managed to shrug off. Now she's standing in front of me—my mother, with the same soft brown eyes and the mole just beneath one of them. Only now, those eyes are filled with regret, and her face—older, worn—is a ghost of the woman who used to kiss my bruises and make the bad dreams go away.

I swallow, but the lump in my throat won't budge. "Mum?" The word comes out hoarse, barely a whisper, but I can't stop the flood of emotions surging through me.

Her lips tremble, and tears well up in her eyes, mirroring the ones threatening to spill from mine. "Finnley," she breathes, her voice thick with unshed tears. "I've missed you so much."

Her touch is warm and gentle, and I feel like a child again, seeking comfort in my mother's arms. I pull her into a tight embrace, not caring about the people around us or the curious glances we might be getting. All that matters is that my mother is here, right in front of me.

Lily stands a few steps back, giving us space but watching with a tender, supportive expression. Her presence is a grounding force amidst the whirlwind of emotions.

"Mum, why now?" I manage to ask, pulling back slightly to look into her eyes. "Why did you leave?"

She looks down, the guilt and sadness etched into her features. "I made mistakes, Finn. I thought it was best for everyone, but I was wrong. I've been trying to find you, to make things right."

I nod, swallowing hard. "I needed you, Mum. I needed you all those years."

Her face crumples, and she hugs me tighter. "I know, sweetheart. But I'm here now, and I want to be a part of your life if you'll let me."

I glance over at Lily, who steps forward, her hand finding mine. She gives me a reassuring squeeze.

"Mum, this is Lily," I say, my voice steadier now. "She's my girlfriend."

Mum turns to Lily, her eyes softening even more. "Lily, it's wonderful to meet you."

Lily smiles warmly. "It's lovely to meet you too."

"I'm staying at the Premier Inn Hotel," mum turns her attention back to me, "I'm in town for the week, please come over so we can catch up properly, I'll leave your name at the front desk."

I exchange a glance with Lily, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside me. Part of me is hesitant, still processing the sudden reappearance of my mother after all these years. But another part of me, the part that's been longing for closure and reconciliation, knows that I need to take this opportunity.

"I'd like that," I say finally, giving Mum a small but genuine smile.

Lily squeezes my hand in silent support, her eyes filled with understanding.

Mum returns the smile, her face lighting up with relief. "Thank you, Finn. It means the world to me."

We make plans to meet at the Premier Inn later on Tuesday, after the holidays. It won't be easy, rebuilding our relationship after so much time apart, but it's a start.

Lily wraps her arms around me, pulling me into a comforting embrace. "Are you okay?" she asks softly leaning up to kiss my jaw.

I nod, leaning into her warmth. "Yeah, I think so. It's just... a lot to process."

"I'm here for you, Finn," Lily says, her voice filled with unwavering support. "Whatever you need, I'll be right by your side."

I smile, "Thank you, Butterfly."

"Come on," she tugs my arm, "I want to go to the ice cream parlour you showed me,"

"Alright, but we need to head back before 6pm" I smile leading her to the ice cream parlour.

********

Dinner is awkward, the kind of tension that makes your skin crawl. Dad's face is the usual stern mask he wears at these gatherings, and Joanne—his girlfriend—is all smiles, a forced brightness that feels out of place in this suffocating room.

Dad clears his throat, his gaze shifting to Lily as he speaks. "So, Lily, it's a pleasure to meet you. Rosetta told me Finn brought a guest, but never did I guess it would be a girlfriend."

Lily returns his smile, her demeanour calm and composed. "Thank you, Mr. Brookes. It's a pleasure to meet you too."

"Please, call me Rhidian"

Joanne interjects, her voice chipper as always. "Yes, it's wonderful to have you join us for dinner, Lily. Finn doesn't often bring guests home."

I roll my eyes slightly at Joanne's comment, "Well, I was blackmailed into coming tonight," I mutter under my breath, though she didn't hear me but that doesn't stop me from earning a sharp pinch from Lily hidden beneath the table.

"And might I add, you are absolutely gorgeous" she finishes, earning a blush from Lily and a slight thank you.

Dad's brow furrows slightly at my remark, but he chooses to ignore it for the moment. "So, Lily, tell us a bit about yourself. What are you studying"

Lily launches into a brief explanation of her studies and her interests, her words flowing effortlessly as she speaks. Dad listens intently, nodding along as she speaks, though his expression remains guarded.

Joanne, ever eager to keep the conversation light, chimes in with a cheerful comment. "Oh, Finn, before I forget, I just wanted to thank you for coming for Sunday dinner. It means a lot to us."

Us, don't make me vomit.

I feel a surge of annoyance at Joanne's words, the reminder of my reluctant presence at the table grating on my nerves. "Yeah, well, let's just say I didn't have much of a choice," I reply, my tone sharper than intended.

Lily shoots me a warning glance, her eyes silently urging me to temper my attitude. I take a deep breath, forcing a more polite smile as I glance back at Joanne. "But I'm happy to be here," I add, though the sincerity of my words is questionable at best.

Dad's gaze lingers on me for a moment, his expression unreadable. But before he can respond, Lily interjects, smoothly changing the subject and steering the conversation back to safer waters.

As the dinner draws to a close, Joanne offers to show Lily around the house, and they disappear into the hallway, leaving Dad and me alone in the living room. The silence between us is heavy with unspoken tension, a plain reminder of the strained relationship that has defined our interactions for years.

I clear my throat, the sound harsh and sharp in the quiet. "So, Dad, I saw Mum today."

The words land like a punch, knocking the air out of the room. His jaw clenches immediately, his entire body going rigid. He meets my gaze, and it's like staring into a storm. "We agreed not to speak about her, Finn," he says, his voice low but deadly.

My blood boils at his calm. How can he be so unaffected? So cold? I shake my head, unable to hold back the frustration building inside me. "I can't pretend she doesn't exist, Dad. She's my mother."

He's ice. His gaze hardens, voice cutting through the air like a knife. "Your mother made her choices. Choices that tore this family apart."

Anger flares in my chest, hot and fast. "She left because of you!" The words fly out before I can stop them, raw and sharp. "You drove her away."

His fists tighten, knuckles white as if he's trying to physically restrain himself. "Don't you dare," he growls, his voice vibrating with barely suppressed rage. "Don't you dare blame me when you only know half of the story."

I laugh bitterly, the sound harsh and hollow. "Oh, pray tell," I snap, sarcasm dripping from my every word. "What other half of the story am I missing, Dad? What could possibly justify her leaving?"

This isn't how we do things. We don't argue. We avoid. We tiptoe around our issues, pretending they don't exist. But now? We're standing on the edge of something explosive, something that's been building for years, and I'm too angry to back down.

His eyes burn with a mix of anger and something else—something deeper, darker. "You don't know what it was like, Finn," he says, his voice shaking. "The sacrifices I made. The lengths I went to, to keep this family together."

I scoff, bitterness rising like bile in my throat. "And what about Mum? What sacrifices did she make?" I challenge, my voice trembling with the fury I've been bottling up for too damn long.

For a split second, I see it—a crack in his stoic façade. A flicker of pain. But it's gone as fast as it appeared, replaced by the same cold mask he's worn my entire life. "Your mother made her choices," he repeats, each word colder than the last. "And those choices tore us apart."

I can't believe this. It's like banging my head against a wall. "You always paint her as the villain, Dad," I snap, my voice rising. "But have you ever stopped to think that maybe—just maybe—she had her reasons?"

His jaw tightens, the tendons in his neck standing out as he glares at me. "This isn't about her, Finn. This is about us. About the family that was left behind."

"Us?" I spit the word, incredulous. "What family, Dad? You've been more of a stranger to me than she has. We've been pretending everything's fine for years, but it's not! It's never been fine!"

He stares at me, eyes blazing with something between fury and regret. For a moment, neither of us speaks, the air between us charged, buzzing with all the things we've left unsaid.

"She's still my mother," I say, my voice shaking with the weight of every emotion I've been holding back for seventeen years. "And no matter what you say, I can't just turn my back on her."

Dad's expression falters, softening in a way that makes my chest tighten. He sighs, the fight draining out of him as he rubs a hand over his face. When he speaks again, his voice is quieter, worn. "I know, Finn. I know it's complicated. But I was only trying to protect you."

Protect me? That word stings, twisting like a knife in my gut. I shake my head, the weight of all the resentment, the confusion, pressing down on me. "Maybe it's time you stop trying to protect me, Dad, and start listening to what I actually want."

The silence stretches between us, thick and heavy. I can feel the crack widening between us, a chasm we might never be able to bridge. But I'm done. I'm done pretending.

Without another word, I turn and walk away, leaving him standing alone in the suffocating quiet.