**Diary Entry**
The day Dad left was the day everything fell apart. Hed found out about Mums affair with a colleague, and the house erupted in shouting.
*”What did you expect? Im always alone! Youre at work day and night. Im a womanI need attention!”* Mums voice cracked.
*”And what if I have that attentive little Romeo of yours arrested? Plant something on him and lock him up, eh?”* Dads tone was icy. He was a police officer.
*”You wouldnt dare! You wouldnt! Youve ruined everything!”*
Mum collapsed onto the sofa, sobbing. Dad grabbed his few things and headed for the door. I stood in the hallway, blocking his way, stupidly thinking a twelve-year-old could stop the end of our happy family.
*”William, dont go,”* Mum begged, her hands trembling. *”Forgive me! Please dont leave. Oliver, why are you just standing there?”*
But I didnt move.
*”Ollie, let me through,”* Dad said, his voice low and finalthe tone he used at work, never at home.
*”Dont go!”* I whispered.
*”Move!”*
*”Dad what about me?”*
He shoved me aside like I was nothing and walked out. I realised later he left in a hurry to stop himself from doing something recklessnot just hitting her, but worse. He carried his service weapon. His eyes burned with rage. That day, he became the man who pushed me away like a chair, and Mum became the one who shattered us.
Of course, Romeo turned out to be a coward. He abandoned Mum the moment Dad left. She was alonehusband gone, lover fled, son blaming her. And me?
I started staying out late, falling in with the wrong crowd. At first, it was just petty theft, then bolder crimes. We were caught robbing a kidnot all his money, but enough. His bodyguard grabbed me and my mate, Charlie. Dad, now head of CID, was called when someone recognised our surnameFairchild, not Williamson.
*”Get out here,”* he ordered.
*”Sod off!”* I hissed.
He yanked me out of the cell.
*”What about Charlie?”* I thrashed.
He dragged me into an interrogation room and slapped me hardtwice. Blood and tears mixed on my face as I hated him more than ever.
*”How old are you?”*
*”What?”*
*”Fifteen?”*
It sounded absurd.
*”Congratulations! You dont even know your own sons age!”*
*”Because youre not mine!”* he snapped. *”I married Elaine already pregnant. Thought shed be a good wife. But she stayed”* He used a foul word.
*”Then whos my dad?”* I was stunned.
He handed me a tissue and water, then sat across from me. *”Im sorry I hit you. Youve let me down. Think I dont have my own problems?”*
*”Then go deal with them,”* I muttered.
*”Ollie on paper, youre mine. I pay child support. But keep this up, and Ill wash my hands of you. Let them lock you upsee if I care.”*
*”What now?”*
*”Now? Youre free.”*
*”And Charlie?”*
*”Charlies got his own father. Theyll manage. Worry about yourself. Fancy prison? Its hellespecially for juveniles.”*
I didnt want jail. But life was painwatching Mum suffer. So I messed around. I told Dad that.
*”No ones choosing for you. Either straighten upstudy, build a futureor keep heading where bad roads lead. Dont want prison? Change. Go.”*
I turned to leave. His voice stopped me.
*”And dont blame your mother. Divorce is always both sides. What I said was anger. Forget it.”*
*”William Dad, you loved each other! Maybe you could”*
*”Forget that too, son.”*
The lads from my old crew didnt let me go easily. A few fights left me bruised, but I got out. Charlie got probation, thanks to Dad, and went back to his life. I made my choice.
I forgave Mum. Tried my hardest. I wanted to know who my real father was, but I never asked. No timeschool had piled up, and I spent every spare hour catching up.
Now, standing in Dads office, his proud gaze on me after graduating police training, I finally understoodlife had brought us back together.
