Scars of his father

Chapter 7 THE JOB HE COULDN'T KEEP

Selma stopped in his tracks when he saw his father sitting on the roadside outside the workshop, head buried in his palms. For a second, he thought he had taken the wrong path home.

Because Rafael Elias did not look like a man with a job anymore. He looked like something abandoned. The afternoon sun pressed hard against the dusty road. Cars sped past, throwing up thin waves of sand that clung to Rafael’s worn shirt, His toolbox sat beside him unopened.

Selma stepped closer slowly, “Dad?” Rafael didn’t move, Selma's chest tightened. He walked around slightly until he could see his father’s face, Rafael’s eyes were open but unfocused like he wasn’t really there.

“Dad,” Selma called again, softer this time. Rafael blinked slowly then exhaled. “Ah” he murmured “You’re here.” Selma noticed immediately the smell of alcohol again.

Selma’s jaw tightened. “What happened?” he asked quietly, Rafael stared at the road. “Nothing.” Selma looked toward the workshop entrance behind them.

A few mechanics stood near the gate watching silently, nobody greeted Rafael today and nobody called his name that alone made Selma’s stomach twist.

Rafael stood slowly, picking up his toolbox with both hands and his movements were slower than usual like his body no longer belonged to him.

“We’re going home,” he said. Selma followed without speaking, the walk was silent.

Even the usual sounds of traffic felt distant. Rafael walked slightly ahead, not turning back once Selma studied his father’s back.

The once-straight posture now bent slightly forward like something invisible was pressing down on his shoulders when they reached home, the gate was half open.

Music played faintly inside, Matilde’s music and Rafael stopped briefly outside the door, Selma noticed.

Just for a second. His hand hovered near the handle then dropped, He pushed the door open. Inside, Matilde was sitting on the couch with a phone in one hand and a glass in the other, She didn’t even look up.

“You’re early,” she said but Rafael didn’t answer. Selma watched his father walk slowly into the house like someone entering a place he no longer belonged.

Matilde finally glanced at him, Her eyes narrowed slightly. “You smell again,” she said Rafael froze.

Selma watched his fingers tighten around the toolbox “I was at work,” Rafael replied quietly and Matilde laughed.

“That’s not what I asked.” Rafael stood still, then Selma saw it. The moment something inside his father stopped resisting. Rafael walked past her without speaking and headed toward the bedroom, Matilde scoffed.

“Don’t ignore me in my house.”

He didn’t respond. The bedroom door shut softly behind him, Matilde clicked her tongue and returned to her phone. Selma stood in the middle of the room for a moment.

Then quietly followed his father, He pushed the bedroom door open slightly. Rafael was sitting on the edge of the bed still in his work clothes.

Staring at nothing, His toolbox rested beside him. Selma stepped inside carefully. “Dad?” Rafael didn’t look up.

“I lost it,” he said. Selma frowned, “What?” Rafael exhaled slowly. “The job.” Silence dropped heavily. Selma’s throat tightened.

“What do you mean?” Rafael rubbed his face slowly.“They said I’m not focused anymore.”

Selma stepped forward, “Why?” Rafael laughed softly, a broken sound. “You know why.” Selma shook his head slightly “No you can fix it. You can talk to them.”

“They don’t want me there anymore.” Rafael’s voice was flat empty, Selma stared at him and his chest began tightening painfully “Because of her?” he asked quietly.

Rafael didn’t answer immediately, then slowly “Yes.” The word hit Selma like a punch. Silence filled the room again outside, Matilde’s voice echoed faintly from the living room.

Laughing, Talking on the phone, living normally as if nothing was collapsing. Selma stepped closer. “You should tell her to stop,” he whispered, and Rafael finally looked at him.

His eyes looked tired beyond sleep. “Stop what?” he asked, Selma hesitated “The men everything.” Rafael stared at him for a long moment then looked away “I tried,” he said softly Selma shook his head.

“Try again.” Rafael laughed again, this time with no humor at all. “I tried for years.”

Selma’s fists tightened, “Then fight.” Rafael’s eyes flickered slightly. Something almost sad. “I don’t have strength left for fights.” the words sank into the room slowly, Selma felt something shift inside him.

Like a door closing. Rafael stood up slowly and walked toward the small cupboard, He opened it, Inside were a few clothes.

A broken belt and a nearly empty bottle. Selma watched silently, Rafael picked up the bottle, stared at it. Then placed it back down.

For a second, it looked like he wanted to stop like he was trying to choose something else but his hand moved again anyway back to it.

Selma looked away, Rafael sat back down heavily. “I’m tired,” he whispered, Selma stood there for a long time. Then quietly left the room In the living room, Matilde was still laughing on the phone.

Her voice was bright, Selma walked past her slowly, She didn’t even look at him. He stopped at the front door and for the first time he understood something fully.

His father was not losing a battle, He was disappearing from one and no one was coming to save him.