Scars of his father

Chapter 9 THE LAST DRIVE

Selma got emotional when he saw his father take the car keys off the kitchen table like they already belonged to someone else, the house was quiet in a wrong way.

Rain still dripped from Selma’s hair as he stood near the doorway, watching Rafael move slowly across the room.

Matilde sat on the couch scrolling through her phone like nothing had happened last night, like a man had not collapsed outside their gate.

Like Selma had not dragged his father inside half-dead, Rafael didn’t look at her not even at once. He just turned the key in his palm again and again, and Selma stepped forward.

“Dad?” Rafael stopped for a second and then continued walking. Selma followed him quickly “Where are you going” but he didn't answer.

Matilde finally looked up from her phone, “Don’t start another drama this morning,” she muttered, Rafael stopped at the door and his hand rested on the handle.

Selma felt something tighten in his chest. “Dad,” he said again, louder. “Talk to me.” Rafael didn’t turn but his voice came low and very tired.

“I’m going out.” Selma moved closer. “At this time?”

Rafael finally looked at him, his eyes were red. “I need air,” he said Selma shook his head quickly “You just got sick last night.” Rafael smiled faintly, “That’s nothing new.”

Matilde sighed loudly behind them, “Just let him go,” she said Selma turned sharply “You don’t care?” Matilde shrugged, “He is an adult.”

Selma stared at her, something inside him felt like it was cracking again and Rafael opened the door, cold morning air rushed in. Selma stepped in front of him instantly.

“Dad don’t.”

Rafael paused, for a long moment. Then slowly placed a hand on Selma’s shoulder, “I’ll be back,” he whispered. Selma’s eyes filled slightly.

“Promise?” Rafael hesitated just a second too long then nodded. “Yes.”

He walked out, The door closed softly behind him, Selma stood still listening, Matilde’s voice came from behind “You’re acting like a child.” Selma didn’t respond.

He walked to the window, outside, Rafael got into the old car and the engine coughed then started. Selma pressed his hand against the glass.

“Don’t go,” he whispered but the car moved slowly down the road. The rain had stopped, but the sky still looked heavy. Selma watched until the car turned the corner.

Then disappeared, Something inside him didn’t settle after that. It only grew worse, hours passed. Selma didn’t eat, didn’t speak, he just sat near the window waiting.

Matilde moved around the house like nothing mattered, music played softly from her phone and she even laughed at one point. Selma’s eyes stayed fixed outside, then a sound knocked at the door and he stood up slowly then walked toward the door.

His hand trembled slightly before opening it, two men stood outside putting on raincoats with serious faces and one of them held a cap in his hands, Selma’s chest tightened instantly.

“No” he whispered, the man cleared his throat gently. “Are you Selma Elias?”

Selma couldn’t answer, behind him, Matilde appeared in the hallway “What is going on?” and the man looked between them and said “I’m sorry” Matilde frowned. “Sorry for what?”

The man took a breath, “There was an accident on the highway.” Selma stopped breathing and Matilde blinked once. “What accident?”

The man lowered his eyes slightly, “The driver of a Toyota Corolla” Selma’s legs weakened instantly, “No” he whispered again and Matilde’s expression shifted slightly.

“who” the man continued softly, “He didn’t survive.”

The house went silent completely even the fan stopped sounding real, Selma felt his body go cold and everything around him blurred, Matilde stepped forward sharply.

“Who are you talking about?” The man looked at Selma, then lowered his voice “Rafael Elias.”

The name didn’t feel real, It didn’t feel like sound. Selma grabbed the door frame instantly, His knees gave way slightly.

“No”Matilde went still for the first time completely “No,” Selma repeated again but it didn’t change anything, the man continued speaking, but Selma couldn’t hear anymore.

Everything became muffled far away like underwater. His father’s smile flashed in his mind, the hand on his shoulder then the broken voice “I’ll be back.”

Selma shook his head violently, “No no no” Matilde stepped back slowly and her phone slipped from her hand and hit the floor for the first time in the entire story.

She didn’t speak, Selma suddenly ran past her, out of the house barefoot and rain had started again “Dad!” he shouted but no answer, he kept running past neighbors, past streets, past everything until his legs gave out.

He fell to his knees on the wet road, water soaked his clothes instantly and his hands pressed against the ground shaking “No” he whispered again but the world didn’t respond, only rain answered him, cold endless.

Selma looked up at the sky, his voice breaking completely “Dad you said you would come back” only thunder far away and in that moment, something inside Selma died with him.