Matt stomped into his room and flopped on the bed, face down. He was sick and tired of his dad’s freak out’s. Matt packed some a shirt and jeans into his backpack, put on a jacket and left the house. At first, Matt didn’t know where he was going. He turned a familiar corner and saw the cemetery where his mom was buried. He always used to go to her for anything. “Be strong” she would tell Matt. But when Matt was nearing the cemetery doors he kept walking without a second thought. He walked two more blocked and turned right seeing Kelly’s Jeep in one of the driveways.
Can I come over? Matt texted her.
My back door is open. Matt smiled at her quick response and went through to the back and up to her room.
“Hey,” Kelly said as Matt walked into her room and flopped onto her bed face first.
“Hey,” Matt muffled.
“What’s wrong?” Matt looked up and crawled closer to Kelly who was also on the bed.
“Nothing.”
“Tell me.”
“Can’t I just want to cuddle with you?” Matt looked up at Kelly with a smile.
“No you can’t because every time you do that there is always something wrong.” Matt didn’t respond. He looked back down and readjusted his face on Kelly.
“I don’t know what I did to him.”
“To who, Matt?”
“To my dad. I just...” Matt’s voice trailed off. Kelly kept silent, letting him process what he was trying to say.  “I just wish that it was different.”
“It’s always going to be different. It shouldn’t have to be like this but you know it’s going to be different.” Matt held Kelly’s waist tighter.
“I miss her, Kelly.” Matt said softly.
“I know you do. You know, I’m sure your dad misses her just as much.” Kelly raked back his hair with her fingers.
“You dont know that...”
“They were married, Matty. You just don’t marry anybody off the streets.” Matt said nothing. “Did you ever talk to you dad about your mom?”
“No we kind of just lives on our own terms. Then he started getting angry and stuff.”
“I thought that your dad was always like that.”
“I mean, he was always a little but never that bad.”
“But now he is?”
“Now he is.” Kelly let the conversation die out and continued to stroke back Matt’s hair. She watched him lie there until she heard a little snore as he breathed in and out.
“Stay strong, Matty,” she whispered and let herself fall asleep.