My Heart Was Wounded Deep
Chapter 14's

The noise of the dog made Kikan's mother check the front door. Because of her age-eaten body, Lis mother moved slowly and with great difficulty, so that when she arrived at the door, Devan was long gone. Kikan was relieved, but dealing with his mother was never easy.

"What's out there?" ms. Lis shouted, her words and tone sounded very spicy, which made her so well known.

Kikan pocketed a paper containing Devan's phone number. Take off the sandals on his sickest leg, and walk closer limping so as not to yell at his mother. He had promised himself before leaving prison to be very kind to his mother. Despite being harsh, Lis mother hated herself more than anyone else hated her. After all this time, Kikan has greater empathy and understands that his mother is actually not as cruel as she shows. It is better not to respond to the yelling, swearing, and rudeness he uttered, which made people stay away from him.

It was fortunate that the dog stopped barking and regained its composure, so Kikan could speak in a normal voice. "Everything's fine, Mom... Don't worry" she said, but a few soft words won't calm Lis's mother. He believed in nothing and was always ready to fight, even though it was an imaginary enemy.

An irritated wrinkle Kikan could see from his mother's face, "I thought I heard the car."

"true." Kikan lifting sandals. "My leg's sick, so I'm driving people here."

After feeling the danger has passed so that it can show itself. Miss Lis opened the door wider. "Whose ride?"

"People who happen to pass by." Kikan shrugged his shoulders. His mother didn't need to hear the details. He himself wasn't sure what to say about Devan. Whether or not he could trust the man's kindness, Kikan used to have very few friends in the city and that probably won't change.

"You're riding in a car?"

"More or less so."

His mother clicked her tongue. "Preferably beware. The people here hate you, and you don't know how they're going to show that hate" he said. Then shut the door.

At least he can ask how the meeting went...

His mother argued that trying to meet Jason, holding on to a small piece of hope that the boy would accept Kikan would just be a waste of time. He insists that Rey will never allow the two of them to take part in Jason's life. And Kikan was stupid for trying to prove that he loved the boy.

Maybe I was stupid, Kikan thought.

Shaking her head Kikan started walking towards the trailer where he lived. Which is not easy to do, he must step with a very heart. Passing through items scattered in the yard that has existed for a long time. Kikan was a little worried that he would step on nails or broken glass. If he does not pay very close attention, he may not see a broken bicycle peering from behind the trailer he is going to.

After pulling out the bike, he noticed it still had two flat tires and a rusty skeleton. But can it still be repaired. I hope the bike will still work. That way, Kikan will not have to walk every time out of the house.

While pushing the bike, Kikan approached the trailer, and leaned it on the front. Kikan immediately climbed the three steps at the entrance of the trailer. He immediately washed his feet and looked for band-aid to protect his abrasions.

The day did not feel so fast, he planned to continue cleaning the trailer. So far he has cleaned the kitchen, bathroom and one bedroom. That's all he's got. It was already a big change compared to the one he had in prison. But he was determined to make his humble abode a home to be proud of. Even if it is only because of its cleanliness.

Later Kikan also had to clean the yard if his mother allowed it. It was not easy to persuade his mother. Sometimes, when his mother doesn't see Kikan stacking the stuff behind the trailer, then early in the morning he'll throw it away.

Kikan was still worried that his mother would find out, Miss Lis could not part with anything, for fear that she would need it next time, but her mother was not as busy as she was. Kikan hopes that his mother's lack will make him not want to. There were enough problems that he was facing right now so there was no need to have a fight with his mother. After his worries since morning subsided, Kikan was finally able to rest.