Promises were meant to be broken.

I didn't believe in them, my mother had promised me that she would always be there for me, which was a lie.

My father had promised me that he would attend my competitions again a lie.

I was promised that one day my mother would be normal, lie.

I didn't really care when my parents broke their promises but it hurt when Zhan did.

He had changed, he was slowly growing distant, and becoming a loner.

I hated to see him like that.

He had asked me to stop bringing him food and other gifts, I didn't want to stop.

I didn't bring him food or gifts because I thought he was poor or because I pitied him, or because I was trying to do charity, I did what I did because it was my love language. I wanted to give him everything, I wanted to make sure he was never hungry, and I wanted to make sure he was happy and content.

I wanted to be the source of happiness in his life like he was in mine, he was becoming more and more withdrawn he was pushing everyone away.

And it was painful to see him like that.

He was depressed but there was nothing I could do.

I wish I was an independent person so that I could take care of him, and provide for him, I would make sure that would never have to be hungry, he would never have worn-out clothes, he would get what he wanted, he would never have to think before buying anything, he would never have to compromise on anything.

I wanted to make sure that he would never have to kill his wishes and let go of something just because he couldn't afford it.

But right now I was helpless, and he was getting depressed day by day.

I still tried to talk to him, tried to engage with him but it was getting tough.

At home, my mother was not getting any better, and my dad was always busy with work.

It was just any other day, when I came back home, my mother was in the hospital and I was supposed to be at school for my practice but I didn't want to be there, because Zhan does not attend my practices anymore and without him, school was no longer fun.

While I was walking to my room, I heard some noise coming from my parent's room, I slowly walked towards the room, and through the slight crack of the door I saw my father lying on the bed with another woman in his arm, the two were naked and were covered with sheets.

My heart dropped as I saw the scene in front of me, I felt sick, as I heard them.

"It's so good to be alone." the woman said, "when is your wife going to come back?"

"She'll be back tomorrow, make sure you leave the house in a few hours."

"That's a pity, I liked it here, in your arms, and I couldn't stay away from you."

"I don't like to be away from you as well, but we can't let her see you."

"So what even if she did, she has, it's not like she hasn't seen me before. But no one believed her and pinned it on her illness."

"Yes, but it could be dangerous honey, she can hurt you."

"How did you manage to stay with her for so long?"

My father did not reply, but I had seen enough, I felt nauseated, I felt guilty for not trusting my mother, I felt sick, I stepped back and knocked down a vase near the door, which alerted my father.

He immediately got up from the bed and opened the door, and when he saw me he was shocked.

~~

"You were cheating on her all this time! How could you! How could you do this to my mother."

"Yibo, son please listen to me."

"I don't want to listen to anything, how dare you cheat on my mother, she loves you."

"Son, please listen to me, I love your mother but-"

"If you loved her, then why did you cheat on her? You lying cheating piece of shit!"

"Yibo please listen to me-"

"I don't want to listen to anything, I thought you loved her, I am going to tell her everything, she would be so heartbroken, she loved yo,u dad-"

"LOVE IS NOT ENOUGH!" My dad yelled, "Love is not enough Yibo! I love your mother too and will always love her, but being with her is exhausting, you have no idea how it feels to walk on eggshells around her.

I am scared that one day she will kill me in my sleep, her delusions are hard to control, and her paranoia is getting out of hand!

Do you know how it feels to come home exhausted after a long day at work only to be attacked by your wife and be called a demon and a cheater and whatnot!

I work so hard! I deserve to be happy too!"

I sniffled.

My dad moved towards me and gently cupped my cheeks, "I am sorry son, I really loved your mother, I really did, but it's getting harder day by day, please don't tell her she might hurt you, me, or herself, she is a danger.

And do you think she can live by herself? Can she survive on her own? If you know what's best for her and everyone, then you'll be quiet. Right, dear?"

I stood there thinking about what my father said, I loved my mother, and he was right to, she could be dangerous, but she loves my father, I know she does, and she does not deserve to be cheated on.

But my father was right, she needed someone to take care of her.

I closed my eyes and nodded slowly.

From that day life became hard, I had to face my mother every day and pretend everything was okay, I had to see her make food for my father, wait for him to come back home, and be a loving wife while he slept with other women. My mother loved my father and it will break her.

I knew that the only reason she was living was because of me and my dad because he loved us, she was fighting because of us. While we lied to her.

And that killed me every day.