That darkest night

rk had been hectic, with a lot of young models coming into the modeling house. She was one of the make-up artists, and that meant a lot of work to do. Her car developed a

ecause the larger cause of the migraine was her children. She wiped an escaping tear from her cheek with the sleeve of her blouse. She had come to realize that crying a million liters of tears wouldn't help matters, it would only c

early grave by herself. "Good morning,Mom." Andrew's voice cut through her stream of thoughts. "Andrew? Why didn't you ever have the sense to knock the door before you entered?" Michelle asked, frowning. "I'm sorry. If that's it." Andrew said immediately as he looked around the room, like he was searching for something. "What's the matter, Andy? What the heck are you looking

people like you." Michelle put in, carrying her bag from the bedside table. "Mom? You know I don't need to ask you. I can as well get it by myself." Andrew said as he took a step forward to where she was. "Then find it! Go and find it, boy! I've got no money on me because I'm trying to make life good for you guys- so, you can't steal my money." Michelle said fiercely. On the contrary, her insides were shaking. From where?, she thought. She didn't want Andrew to steal from anyon

. Disciplined, rules-abiding boys. Her sister was always very proud of raising such good children, and her bragging about them were always hurting Michelle's ears. She had been hoping over the years, that her children would change their beh

usly watching the television. "What? Melinda, are you alright? You've not cleaned the house, yo

ting out her feelings inside of her, and she couldn't have her daughter asking her such a stupid question under her watch. And worst of all, to her face. "You have to get some manners, Mel! I'm your mother, and no child of mine should ever talk to me like that." Michelle said, talking past the hot lump in her throat. "I'll...let me watch this for sometime- I mean the TV. I'll clean." Melinda answered in a tone of indifference, like she d

e meal into the waste can." Michelle replied as she poured herself a cup of chocolate tea. Jason looked up at her and shook his head. "Mom? You can't afford the vacation, so you should be able to put quality meals on the table." he put in. "But, why do you always complain, Jason? Why?" Michelle asked, leaning in the chair and folding her arms. She wanted to know whether the boy simply

. And she was beginning to

hinking, of course. She couldn't believe that Jason could talk to her like that. He was getting influenced by Mel and Andrew. That was very true. "You're being rude! Jason, you're being rude!" she pointed a finger at him, furious. "No, Mom. I'm just answering your question." Jason said immediately. Mic

I'm not trying enough! I'm tired of all this complaining and troublemaking, please!" Michelle shouted, pounding her fists on the dining table. "Oh, Mom. You're so pathetic! Everyone can see that... you're not doing your best." Melinda said, placing a hand on her forehead and removing it at the same time, letting it drop by her side. "Pathetic? Melinda, are you telling me that?" Michelle wanted to know, looking up at her daughter through teary eyes. "Yeah. That's it, Mom. It's either you take it

l herself- she kept on crying and crying. Jason had disposed of the meal she had prepared with

where she was going. The last thing she wanted was to have an accident. No, no way for that. She struggled to concentrate, shuffling her thinking pattern between how her husband had left her, and her children. Life was biting hard on her, things were weighing down on her, and her self-confidence had just been blown into smithereens just by

ck of direction, she saw a bleak future; infact, she didn't see any great thing ahead. All she knew was that things would be getting worse. Someone tapped on the window of her car. She looked up and wiped away her tears. "Ma'am, are you okay?" a policeman asked with concern. "I am. Thank you." Michelle flashed a smile at hi

rying further. She was already giving up on her kids. Truth of the matter, she was always giving up on herself. She sat in that chair, looking at herself in the mirror. She fiddl