Yes Tom

The house was quiet and I smiled happily at the sereneness of it all. Not even the birds outside were singing, just silence. I look down at Tommy and place my hand upon his head. His forehead is hot and sweaty, breathing haggard. I frown."I thought he was supposed to be getting better, not worse..." I wonder aloud to myself. Interrupted by a fit of coughing I rub his back soothingly as he hacks. After a minute it dies down and he sighs, as if exhausted. I suppose he is, not just from being sick but from the strain of Tom coming home-or rather, being alive. Guiltily I gaze at my son, he seems so small, so fragile compared to Tom. I've been less of a mother to him I think, since Toms return. I shouldn't allow Tom to be the way he is around Tommy, but no matter my intentions I seem to fall back into the same woman that Tom loves. What example am I setting for my son by being so submissive? I sigh, pushing the thoughts away until another time, until Tommy and I can talk properly I look out the bedroom door as a loud sound erupts somewhere in the house. Startled, I move Tommy's head so that it's upon a pillow and rise up out of the bed. Descending down the stairs I'm not greeted by anyone in the dining room, the front hall, or the living room. Faintly I can make out furious muttering from down the back hall and I follow it to Tom's study. I pause a moment, he never likes to be disturbed, after a moment though I knock.

Knock. Knock.

Silence answers me. "Tom?" I knock once more.

Knock. Knock.

"Tom is everything alright in there?" I don't hear anything at first but then the sound of papers rustling meets my ears and strain to focus them. "Tom?"

"What?" Is my harsh response.

"I could hear a loud sound from all the way upstairs, I just wanted to make sure everything was alright." Taking a deep breath after my answer I stare at the door. He doesn't answer. "Tom, may I enter?"

Suspiciously, "You may..."