Hide And Seek

His heart would pound. He was in trouble and he knew what to expect next. In his head, he prayed for someone to rescue him from the inevitable. And like most of the other times, none came. He could not remember the first time he got hit, but it didn't really matter. Standing face to face with the adult, he dared not look him in the eye. He never could. He knew what to expect next, and he was scared. Like a captive having a gun pointed to his head, he felt anxious waiting for his fate. He thought it was better the usual proceedings got on quickly and have his misery ended sooner...

He could not remember how terrible he felt then but broken memories of the past gave some light of imagination. More or less. And he never understood why it happened to him.

Things got better with age. Only because the 2 of them had better things to do than to mind each other. The young man felt it was better he stood clear and avoided the elder. They had nothing to talk about or share with anyway he thought. And it seemed to work. Problems were appearing lesser than usual. He felt better and more at ease on his own.

As they lived together day by day, they grew further apart. Their frail bond weakened. He didn't know if the elder noticed but he saw it. He had imagined a better picture of them, where they were happier, closer. He always wished but he knew it was almost impossible. Leaving at that he didn't really mind.

Lately, things somehow seemed to get better between them. They managed discussions and during better times, personal conversations. On a few brief occasions, they managed to smile and laugh to each other. They would have found it difficult to piece two words in the past. He thought things must have turned a corner...

A few nights ago, he saw the past. There was trouble between the man and the elder. In truth, it was never their fight. The man tried to explain to the elder, and to calm down. He spoke in a normal but firm tone throughout. But there was the rush of blood to the elder's head and his short temper was undeniable. The man saw the elder's eyes stare upon him full of rage. He knew the peace treaty they had silently agreed had broken then. Somehow strangely, the man felt defiant. He felt strong and unafraid. As the elder surged forward towards him, he stood exactly where he was before unmoved. When they stood face to face, he looked into the elder's eyes. And he didn't feel compelled to look away. Not one bit. The man's display of defiance angered the elder further. He managed a slight push on the man's face although the man was sure the elder would have prefered to punch him. Then the distance between them grew. The man was not about to allow the elder lay a hand on him again. And all the while, neither looked away from each other. The elder never lost steam and got angrier by the seconds. A barrage of abuses rained on the man. What he heard was nothing new to him. Except this time he could not remember a time where he was at the receiving end of it all. This was the first. And it seemed the chance of redemption was gone.


The End.


It's hard to think about who you can trust now. Problems come from the very people you hope and believe you can rely on. It's all beginning to confuse too much and it's hard telling right from wrong, friend or foe. Inconsistencies in facts are causing emotions to fluctuate. I'm sure I'll soon go into depression if this continues. I just wish happiness will stop playing hide and seek games cos right now it's making everything a hell of a mess.