It was a discovery as welcome as it was startling. The very thought shakes him to the very core as he picks up his mobile in a bolt of excitement. He could not understand why it had taken him this long to realise and yet his mind wanders back to just moments ago.

***

The wind howls in distress as it weaves its way through the open night. The air is dense with the moisture as the rain pelts down akin to razors in an over powering hurdle. A lone pair of head lights strain their way through the misty night trying every so hard to carry its driver home safely. Alone resting in the driver's seat Tony tries his best to shake off the clinging exhaustion. Tom was sitting lethargically in his leather seating with one thought dominating his mind.

'Almost there," and he was indeed correct. He sank further into his seat as his emerald eyes landed upon a sky reaching neon sign that was sitting bleakly before the grey institutional building. The words 'motel' flashed in an aura of false hope, welcoming him home. Tom turned onto the gravel road that littered the car park before killing the engine. The car gave an appreciative hum before it turned in for the night.

Tom leant over the dash board, fighting the urge to close his eyes. The dissonant clatter of the rain outside created a drum like pattern that strangely lulled Tom into sleep like phase.


With a sigh, Tom grabbed his leather briefcase before he pulled himself out from under the shelter of the car and shuffled his way through the rain until he got to a dull purple door. Upon the painted piece of oak hung a small number '7' that had melded and corroded away into the door. As he gripped the doorknob and pushed against the cracked wood, the hinges moved with a 'creak' that was muffled by the pelting of the rain. The noise created an unwelcoming echo throughout the small room. None the less, Tom moved inside dragging his feet onto the thin azure carpet.

Tom looked around in disappointment as his eyes scanned the vacant room. The room was merely furnished with a small onyx three-seater couch and a single spring bed layered with a thin white blanket. Books and thick files were stacked in towering piles and clothes were littered over the carpet in disarray.

The mess of his work folders scattered along the carpet only made Tom retract into the past.

***

The pitter patter of small feet had raced to greet him as he arrived back home. A bright smile had been spread widely across his daughters face, it clearly showed off her adorable dimples, as she would welcome him back home. Her golden ringlets had flowed gracefully down the length of her back similar to her mother's. Her round blue eyes had always brightened in glee as she pulled him inside the door for dinner.

As he had walked through the door he had been immediately hit with the tantalising smell of a baked dinner, which had been freshly cooked and hot out of the oven. His wife had always had a passion to cook and had continued to pass down her traditions to Keera.

Tony remembered that afternoon he had raced home with a bight smile spread across his face. As he had reached his home he had almost burst with excitement as he had exclaimed his new position in his job.

"That's amazing! Congratulations!" she had cried with open arms and a bright grin spread wide across her face. Keera had raced in with a toothy grin congratulating him as she had repetitively jumped on the spot enthusiastically.

"I will cook something special for tonight." His wife had exclaimed gleefully.

"Thank you," He had said as he had turned all his attention to his wife, "I'll be able to support us all with the new pay."

***

And he had. He had supported his family time and time again and yet it had seemed that it just wasn't good enough. Tom could not fathom the reason as to why all his hard work had landed him in the gutter of a motel.

Tom noticed a microscopic spider that fashioned its glittering web in the corner of the claustrophobic room. He was sure that the spider had felt more at home than he himself did.

Moving with a lack of enthusiasm, Tom forced the contents that were scatted over his sheets onto the carpet with one firm push before he perched himself upon his mattress. The springs rang out in anguish as they lengthened under his weight.

Sighing once more, Tom lay down allowing the springs to once again squeak . Tom stared up at the digital numbers that sat conveniently upon the birch wood table that stood at the bedside. The neon green light flashed from '1:00' to '1:01' before his emerald eyes only making him feel more shattered.

Suddenly, Tom's eyes landed upon a small plastic frame that sat silently upon the birch wood table. The frame was filled with a petite image of smiling faces that only reminded him once more of his predicament. Despite his exhaustion Tony finds himself wide awake fighting a losing battle against the memories crowding in. It is as if nostalgia has a firm grip on him and he could no longer shake it off. As he tried to let go of his thoughts Tony stared up at the dusty cream ceiling. Again he finds himself recollecting fragments of memories

***

On a night, akin to tonight Tom had raced home as quickly as he could. He had opened the door to the brick house silently as he could before he had tip-toed through the foyer and into the dining took. He had remembered how his heart dropped as he set his sights upon a petite girl with a tangle of brown hair lay across the table asleep. A frosted cake had sat in front of her, its candles had been burnt down into small stumps. Tom let out a sad breath as he had stripped his trench coat from his back.

He had heard footsteps behind him and turned to see his wife signal him to the net room. After he taken one last glance at his daughter, he had followed her his wife into the kitchen.

"She wanted to wait for her daddy." His wife stated, her crystal eyes shone is disappointment.

"I'm so sorry, work-" Tom had started to explain before being cut short by his wife.

"Yeah, I know. Work again." She had spoken with a deadly whisper. She had melancholy laced into her tone as she shook her head as if she could not believe it. "You're missing out. She is growing up. She only turns five once, you know." She exclaimed, her voice had slowly crescendoed as she pleaded.

"I'm sorry, I tried to get away but-" Tony had spoken softly, too tired to argue.

"But you couldn't." His wife finished disappointment had been laced out in every word.

"You know I couldn't, I would have been fired if I had just left." Tony snapped quietly as he felt his anger boil inside of him.

"Maybe that would have been for the best." Tony's wife exclaimed as she stood her ground. "You're never here anymore."

Tom had opened his mouth to speak before he had been interrupted by a soft buzzing from within his pocket. As he had reefed his mobile from his slacks his wife had taken one glance at the device before she had peered at him with pleading eyes.

"It's my boss." Tom stated calmly. His wife's facial features had twisted into a look of detest as her patiences had worn thin.

"If you pick that up, don't bother coming home." She sneered in anger as all her intent for a calm conversation had fled her thoughts. Tom had moved his thumb over the green light before he had placed the device to his ear.

That was it. He had been tossed out of the house in a heart beat and he couldn't grasp any notion as to why. Why could she not see that he was trying so hard at work for her? Even with all his efforts to provide for his family she had tossed him out like he had been a stranger. Did he not work hard enough?

Tom was reefed out of the corner of his mind as a soft buzzing sound vibrated against wood next to his ear. The small box illuminated the entirety of the room gaining Tom's full attention.

As Tom reached out for the phone, he read the bolded text that was present on the display.

"Boss"

With a sharp sigh Tom moved his thumb so that it hovered over the green button. Abruptly, Tom's finger halted. His emerald eyes glanced back up to the small plastic frame. He remembered the bright smiles that had been on his family's face as he walked through the door each day. Each day they had worked in tandem with courage and joy to stride on. When was it that his job had become so boring to him?

Rapid as an electric shock, Tom's body stiffened as his mind played through his memories like a home movie. With one drawn out breath for support Tom moved his thumb and pressed down on the red button.

As if in slow motion, Tom watched as the screen faded back into darkness. Suddenly it was like his wholesale life snapped into focus. What could be the odds that a single ray of light streamed into the room as he jumped out of bed with new found energy.

Like a revelation Tom picked up the family portrait. By declining that call he had just quit his job but instead of worry and guilt a flood of relief filled every bone in his body and he couldn't wait to see two particular bright smiles. Those two smiles that brought joy into his day. Into his life. Into his work.

What was the point without those two bright smiles?

It was indeed a discovery as welcome as it was startling.