(Ravine POV)

"Ravine, who did this to you?!!! Was it your mom?" Dad was so furious when he saw my bruised up face.

"Dad, I'm telling you it's nothing. I just got into a stupid fight at school. You should have seen the other guy's face. His was a lot worse than mine." I said as I tried to defuse the situation.

"I have to talk to his parents though. I have to make sure that this will not happen again." He said.

"Dad, I'm telling you. It's okay. I won that fight. You know how I am? I don't go down without putting up a good fight." I said as I tried to reassure him.

"Alright, fine but the next time this happens, there's no way I am going to let this pass, do you understand me?" Dad said.

"Okay."

"But if your mom did that, you don't have to protect her, Ravine. We can make some legal arrangements for us to take you away from her." Sylvia said.

"Sylvia, you have nothing to worry about. It's not mom's doing, I guarantee you." I said.

"Alright, if you say so."

"But I thought fighting was bad, mommy?" Milo asked on her mother's lap.

"It is bad, sweetheart." Sylvia said as she kissed Milo's head.

"But why did Ravine say 'I don't go down without putting up a good fight?' What does he mean by that?" Milo asked.

"Well, you're too young to know about those things, sweetie."

"But I want to know about them." Milo pouted.

"It's okay, Sylvia. I can explain to him." I said. "There are two types of fighting, Milo. There is what we call a good type of fighting and a bad type of fighting. A bad type of fighting is when a person instigates a brawl or a commotion without any logical reason. Do you know what a bully is?"

"A bully is a bad guy who hurts people or makes other people cry."

"Exactly, they make people cry just for their own personal amusement or for them to feel good about themselves. Those are what you call bad fighters. Now, a good type of fighting is when a person stands up for other people or defends himself against bad people."

"Oh, so you're telling me that it's okay to fight if you're just defending yourself?"

"You got it, bud!"

Sylvia smiled at me and mouthed a "thank you" for educating little Milo.

"Alright, bud! It's time for bed." Dad said as he lifted Milo off Sylvia's lap and carried him upstairs.

"Daddy, will you read me a bedtime story?"

"Sure thing, which story would you like?"

"Robin Hood!"

"Robin Hood? Haven't I read that to you before?

"But I like Robin Hood!!"

"Alright, then Robin Hood it shall be." Dad laughed.

Now, it's only me and Sylvia in the living room.

"You know what? I envy your little Milo." I said to her.

"Why is that, dear?" Sylvia said.

"Because it seems like he has the perfect childhood. He has a loving mom and dad who nourishes him and provides him with a healthy and happy environment. There is no form of toxicity whatsoever. How I wish it was the same for everyone, you know?" I said.

"I'm sure you had a happy childhood too. Maybe you just can't remember it. Maybe your mom is not really that bad. You're just not giving her a chance." Sylvia said.

"No, she is actually that bad, Sylvia. She's worse than bad. She is what I call the religious evil incarnate."

"It breaks my heart seeing you like this." She said with a sorrowful tone.

"It breaks my heart seeing me like this too." I said. "All I can remember is how she and dad would fight all evening to the extent of it becoming violent. My mom would sometimes be the sweetest human being that you could ever meet. She'll shower you with gifts and chocolates and all these goodies but if she wakes up on the wrong side of the bed or if she's not particularly in the best mood, she'll be the most vicious woman you have ever seen in your life. She will attack your character in every way possible with her sharp tongue and derogatory verbiage to the point of shattering your self-esteem. It has been going on for a long time. Dad and I have put up with that for so long. I don't blame him for sleeping with you, Sylvia. Any man would rather sleep with you than sleep with my mother."

Sylvia nodded her head, and finally understood my pain of having to be with that wacko.

"So anyway, the minute you thought it couldn't get any worse, it actually did. You got impregnated and dad chose you over her. They divorced and you guys married each other. Dad was finally out of that madhouse but I wasn't. Her life turned into a downward spiral and she became worse than ever. She would take her anger out on me relentlessly and she would do her best to brainwash me all the time but I saw right through her. It pissed her off royally when she saw she couldn't get through me. However, a part of me also resents dad for leaving me with her. Why do you think he left me? He could've easily gotten custody of me but he didn't. Why is that?" I asked as tears are slowly seeping through the corner of my eyes.

"Ravine!" Dad said behind me, who's clearly eavesdropping. I stood up from the couch and made eye contact with him.

"So why didn't you take me, dad?" I asked him.

"Because your mother begged me not to take you away from her. Because she would have no one if I take you with me. Because she promised she would take care of you." Dad said.

"You believed that God forsaken woman?"

"I didn't know that you were going to endure years of abuse from her." He said.

"BULLSHIT! You knew." I said.

"Don't talk to me like that." Dad raised his tone.

"Why the fuck did you leave me with that nuthouse, knowing what she's capable of? Knowing how she is, what possessed you to leave your little son with a mentally handicapped woman?!" I said as I begin to sob.

"I didn't know she was going to put you through that! If I did, I would have taken you." Dad's tears are starting to come out as well.

I can see Sylvia through my peripheral vision, crying as well. She left the room quietly so my dad and I can have a more private Father-and-son talk.

"You fucking left me with that thing, why the hell did you put your son through that experience?" I was crying so loud, I was pretty sure Milo is going to sneak out his room and look down to see what's happening.

"I did not leave you. I came to visit you every weekend, didn't I?"

"You think that made a fucking difference? Why did you do it? Why...did...you let that woman...abuse your son?" I'm now having a hard time talking and my voice is becoming shaky due to so much crying.

"Because I'm a fucking coward!!!!!" He screamed. "Is that what you wanted to hear, Ravine? I AM A GODDAMN SPINELESS COWARD!!!" He screamed so loud, I doubt Milo is still asleep at this point.

He fell on his knees, pinched the bridge of his nose and let all his emotions out. He bawled his eyes out like there's no tomorrow.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry, I'm sorry." He cried. Sylvia went to dad and began comforting him. I went over to him and kissed his cheek and gave him a long and loving embrace. He embraced me ten times tighter as if he hadn't seen me in years.

"I'm sorry, Ravine. I'm sorry, forgive me. Forgive my abandonment." He sobbed.

"I know dad. I know you are." I cried.

Sylvia hugged the both of us. I have no idea how long the moment was but let me tell you, it was so goddamn cathartic.