When Silence Returns

Takeshi returned home that evening with a heavy heart, despite the lingering trace of a smile that hadn't left his face all the way back. He opened the apartment door quietly—cautiously, as he always did, as if afraid to wake the monsters dwelling within the walls.In this place, darkness always preceded the light. There was no sound except for the faint hum of the television from the living room. His father sat on the sofa, eyes fixed on the screen, but his mind was somewhere else entirely. He didn't even turn around when Takeshi entered.Taking off his shoes and setting his bag aside, Takeshi hesitated before breaking the silence. "I'm home..."No answer came. Long, heavy seconds passed before his father spoke in a cold, dry tone: "You’re late."It wasn't a question; it was a verdict. "There was... an activity at school," Takeshi said quietly, trying not to provoke anything.His father sighed and turned off the TV. "Activities don't put bread on the table."Silence fell again, but this time it was suffocating. Takeshi wanted to say something, to explain, to tell him that he was happy today... but he swallowed his words. In this house, happiness wasn't something that could be explained.He headed to his room and passed by his mother's door. It was half-open. He saw her sitting on the edge of the bed, staring at an invisible point in the void. Her hair was messy, and her features were pale, like a ghost haunting the room."Mom...?" he whispered.She didn't turn. He took a step forward but stopped; he knew this scene too well. He knew that any attempt to reach out might break something already fragile.He went into his room and closed the door behind him. Sitting on his bed, he stared at the ceiling. The warmth he had felt at school began to fade, like a beautiful dream that ended too soon. He pulled out his phone, hesitated for a long time, then opened the chat.Misaki: "Did you get home safely? 😊"His heart skipped a beat. He typed, erased, then typed again: "Yes... thank you. I was happy today."A few seconds later: "I am too... very happy."He smiled without realizing it, but the smile didn't last. He turned off the phone and set it aside. Turning on his side, he stared into the pitch black. A terrifying thought gripped him: Can something beautiful actually stay? Or is everything that gets close to me destined to suffer?That night, sleep did not come easily. Between Misaki’s light and the shadows of his home, the true struggle began in Takeshi's heart

...................................................................After the brief light in the previous chapters, we finally see the reality Takeshi faces every day. This chapter is very dear to my heart because it shows the internal struggle between happiness and home. What do you think of Takeshi’s family? I’d love to hear your thoughts