Chapter 1 TRACK 00: Prelude

"It's my decision!"

"No!" He screams. "This is my family, my house-"

"Your house?" The woman laughs, "This is my house; you pay bills!"

"Why you-"

"Do it! Hit me, and I'll have you arrested!"

A 12-year-old boy held onto his little sister, asleep in his arms, covering her ears with his tiny hands, shielding her from downstairs chaos.

"Our kids are better off without you."

"I have the right to them!"

"You lost that right when you started sleeping with other women!"

"I told you, I never slept with anyone!" The man groaned, "You believe everyone in this town except the person who should matter."

"Cause all you do is lie! Where's that promotion, huh? That raise you were bragging about?"

"Krista, that's management...." He sighed, "They told me that I would get it-"

"Well, you didn't! Your daughter's sick, and moping around won't pay the bills."

"What do you want me to do? Leave them here alone at night while we both work?"

"We can get a babysitter-"

"You don't have time to look for one!" He snapped, "You don't want to leave them with your mother, and you won't let me choose either."

"Cause you'd probably get the easy young girl."

The man gave a tired laugh, "You know what, Krista? I can't do this anymore."

"What?" She watched as her husband walked to the door, "Wait, Ma-"

"Just..." He opens the front door, trying his best not to look back. "Just let me think, Krista."

Hearing the front door made the young boy sit up, setting his sister back in bed; he ran down the stairs past his mother, who was nursing a glass of wine; he threw the door open and ran out.

"Dad! Dad!"

Unlike his wife's, this is a voice the man would always respond to. He turns around and sees the boy standing a few feet away, tears brimming as he catches his breath. He waved his son over, and in an instant, the boy held on as if his life depended on it.

"Please don't go, Daddy."

"I'm sorry, buddy, but I don't want you and your sister to see me and your mom like this."

"Then we'll go back to how it was!"

"I'm not sure that that's possible, buddy." His voice was laced with so much kindness it was impossible to think he was in a screaming match with his wife moments ago.

"Where will you go?" The boy asks, looking at his dad.

"I don't know, maybe stay over at your uncle Jerry's place for the night."

As much as he'd like to keep the innocent look in his son's eyes, the boy already knew what was happening; he had heard enough parents separating stories from his friends that he felt left out of the trend.

Welcome to the club.

"Will you be getting a divorce?"

He sighed and wiped off the tears on the boy's face, "Go back inside buddy; I'll see you tomorrow."

"I have school." He sniffled.

"And who picks you up from school?"

His son gives him a toothy grin, "My rock star dad."

"That's right." His dad tousled his hair and kissed his forehead before lightly pushing him toward the house.

His wife stood by the door; the annoyed look on her face caused him more pain than it should.

"Good night, Dad."

"Good night, son; kiss your sister for me." He faked a smile and watched his son run up the door.

"I will; I love you, Dad."

"I love you too, Johan."

The boy watched his dad drive off as the rain started to pour.

That was the last time he saw him.