Home Again

"Mum!  I want that."

 I stared at my four-year-old son.  He had been pointing to everything he sees  He wanted everything.  At first, he wanted the plane we boarded, which made me laugh and he was so curious as to why I was laughing.  Then he wanted the chairs at the airport but now he was pointing to a bag someone was holding.

"Sorry, sweetie.  You can't have that," I responded.  That had been my response to all of his needs.  And I knew what was coming after my response, so I smile ahead.

"Why?" he looked so cute, curious and confused as if he couldn't understand why he can't have a bag that doesn't belong to us. 

"You can't have it because it does not belong to mummy.  It belongs to someone else." he pouted and it melts my heart.  

"Then why can't we buy it," he said.

We were waiting for our bags, so I pulled him closer to the baggage reclaim area.  "We will buy ours once we get home."  That seems to reassure him and he was quiet for a while.

I got our bags and moved to the taxi area. 

The moment the taxi moved, I couldn't help but think that the area was the same as it was five years ago.  There weren't a lot of changes in the city.  The road was as bad as it had always been, and the city was as busy as always.  I inhaled.  I miss home and I was glad to be back after years of being away.  I was glad to be back with my son.  This was his first time in Arnold city.   

The car drove past my old neighbourhood.  I turned my gaze away from it not wanting to be reminded of my past.  The neighbourhood for the poor.  I was not the girl I used to be and refused to look back at a past I wanted nothing more than to forget.

"Mummy, you are crying.  Did someone hurt you?"

Dean was sitting on my leg trying to wipe the tears off my face.   I guess I am not as healed as I thought.  I had thought coming back home wouldn't have any effect on me but just a look at my old neighbourhood brought with it tears.  I wiped the tears off my face, "I am fine, sweetie.  Something got in my eyes."

Dean nodded but then he saw something else that got his attention. He tapped me and pointed to a beautiful home.  The type I wouldn't have dreamed of coming close to in the past.  "Mummy, I want that." 

I smiled, "Well, lucky you boy because it's ours." 

The car stopped in front of the house and I pulled Dean out while the driver helped us with our luggage.  I stopped to admire the mansion I now called house.  It was huge with a water fountain visible from the gate.   I turned to glance at the neighbourhood where only the wealthy reside and took a deep breath.   My son and I would live in this kind of environment and we would be treated with respect.

I felt a tug on my gown, "Are we going in mum?"

I nodded and pulled out the remote to control the gate.  Looking at the house now, it was more beautiful than I had imagined it to be.   Dean was already running inside and that brought a smile to my face.  The interior was huge and I felt another lone tear drop from my face.  I wished my parents could see this.  I am finally realising their dreams but they were not here to witness it.  This was more than they could dream of.

"Mummy.  Mummy, where is my room?"

I heard Dean's echo and I smiled as I dragged the bag into the vacant room.   "Where do you want, sweetie?"

I  already knew the room he was going to pick because I asked the agent to help me decorate a room suitable for a four-year-old.  The moment I opened the door to the room, I saw Dean jumping on the bed and throwing toys up and down.  He was already feeling at home. When he saw me, he ran to hug me.  "Mum, let's live here.  I like this place."

For some reason, another tear dropped off my eyes, "Sweetie, this is our new home.  We are going to be living here now."

I thought he would smile but he frowned, "What about Emily?"

Emily was my friend.  The only one I could rely on then. "Emily will come over soon, don't worry."   That brought the wide smile back to his face while he went back to his jumping up and down on his bed. 

I started arranging our clothes and important stuff around.   When I was done, it was evening and we didn't have any groceries so we went shopping.  Thankfully, the mall was close to the apartment.  Since I haven't gotten a new car yet we walked to the mall.  

Dean wanted everything in the mall. So, ended up buying a bunch of things we might not need, just to satisfy him.  I was about to go make a payment when I saw one of the bitch who used to call herself my friend.  I pulled Dean close to me and dragged him to the cashier.

He tried pushing my hands away, "What's wrong mummy?  You are hurting me."   

I knelt beside him trying to stop him from crying, "I am sorry dear.  Mummy did not mean to hurt you. " Pulling his face closer and hugging him.

"Naomi." A familiar voice said and I looked back to see Sandy staring at me as if I had just come back from the grave.  She hadn't change that much and still maintains her model shape and obviously her expensive lifestyle.

Her eyes moved to Dean and I wished I had hidden him behind never.  "Who is he?"

"No one."  I bite my lips and pushed Dean behind me. "Excuse me." 

I picked up the bags in haste and dragged Dean out with me.  I could feel Sandy's gaze on us.