I thought it would be interesting to reveal this woman’s life through various flashbacks - she time travels through her memories and I hope the reader realizes that sometimes, it’s necessary to examine the past before taking that first step toward the future.

Thanks for reading.

Moving On (excerpt)

“What the hell is wrong with you kid? It’s a simple concept, one we’ve been working on all night. Are you stupid? Or maybe just retarded? You know what?” the man threw down the expensive calculator and stood up. “I’m done. You’re on your own, but I’ll tell you one thing buster, if you fail math, you’re losing everything, video games, computer, TV, the works. And don’t come crying to me like the baby you are.”

Claudia winced at her desk in the next room. Why did he have to talk to him like that? Why did he have to belittle him and make him feel like an idiot?

She waited for her husband to leave the kitchen before she quietly approached her son. She placed a gentle hand on his shoulder and offered an encouraging smile. “It’s okay honey, you’ll get it. The light bulb just hasn’t come on yet. Maybe you need a tutor? Would that help you?”

Her son sighed and shook his head. “No. I’m just tired. And it’s hard to concentrate when …” he trailed off and Claudia nodded, understanding what he wasn’t saying.

“Are you done with your homework?”

“Yeah.” His shoulders were slumped over and he looked utterly defeated.

Claudia could feel the familiar anger building inside her. She was married to an asshole, no doubt about it. Her husband had always been verbally abusive with her, she supposed she had hoped he would mellow by the time they had had kids.

He hadn’t.

“Okay,” she ran a hand through his hair “Why don’t you take a nice hot shower and relax a bit.”

“Stop coddling the kid, Claudia! He needs to grow up and that won’t happen if you don’t stop mothering him. Now bring me some beer. Make yourself useful for a change. I’m tired and I have an important meeting in the morning.”

The smile she bestowed on her son was strained, but she tried hard not to let him see her distress. The kid had enough problems as it was, he didn’t need to start worrying about her.

“Go on, son.” She gave him a gentle push. Her son gathered up his schoolwork and moved away.

She sighed and counted to ten. She wouldn’t lose her temper, that only made things worse. Even though her husband had never hit her, she knew that if she pushed him too far, he just might start.

She grabbed a beer and dragging her feet, she took it to him.

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