It was night. Winter had almost settled in, and snow was falling softly against the window pane—some of it sneaking through the cracked glass into the room. The cold had made itself at home.
Suddenly, a sharp voice called out.
"Ben! Open the door to your room!"
Ben pulled his blanket closer around him. The voice came again, louder this time. Sighing, he got up and opened the door.
Aunt Margaret stepped into the room, instantly wrinkling her nose at the icy air.
"This room is freezing," she snapped.
Ben rubbed his hands together, shivering.
"Aunt... could you please have the window glass fixed? It's too cold in here."
She gave him a dismissive glance.
"We don't have the money, Ben. And whatever we do have is going towards your education."
Her tone turned sharper as she added,
"Dinner's ready. Come down now."
Ben didn't argue. He just nodded quietly.
Downstairs, near the dining table, Margaret was already complaining to her husband Richard.
"I honestly can't stand that boy. I don't even know why he's still with us."
At that moment, loud laughter echoed down the staircase. Their son, Tyler, was watching TV upstairs.
Richard sighed.
"He's become lazy. Doesn't care about anything other than telly and video games."
Margaret smirked.
"Still better than Ben. At least he doesn't irritate me."
Richard chuckled lightly.
"Alright, let's just eat. I'll call Tyler down."
He walked over to the kitchen window and looked out.
"It's really cold tonight..."
Margaret huffed.
"If Ben doesn't show up, I'm not giving him any dinner."
Just then, a voice came from behind her.
"Aunt, I'm here."
Ben's voice.
Margaret ignored him. Richard turned to Ben.
"Sit down, have your dinner, and head straight back to your room afterwards."
He then went off to fetch Tyler.
Ben sat silently at the table, his eyes briefly meeting Margaret's.
She scoffed.
"Don't give me that innocent look."
Ben replied softly,
"I'm not trying to."
Margaret snapped back,
"Right. Just don't talk to me. I'm not in the mood."
Just then, Tyler came bounding in.
"Mum! I'm here—dinner ready?"
Margaret turned to him with a sweet smile that Ben rarely ever saw.
"Yes, my boy."
Ben fell silent again. A memory flashed in his mind—his mother and father. He didn't remember them well. All he had was a faded photo where he was barely a toddler, sitting between the two of them.
Tyler suddenly turned to him with a grin.
"Hey, Ben! Tomorrow's your birthday!"
He then looked at his father.
"Dad, can we celebrate Ben's birthday tomorrow?"
Richard hesitated, then nodded.
"Yeah… sure."
Margaret rolled her eyes.
"Fine. We'll celebrate it," she said with clear disinterest.
Richard clapped his hands together gently.
"Right then, let's eat."
Everyone began dinner.
Ben ate in silence. His face showed nothing, but inside, a storm was brewing—loneliness, confusion, and the ache of not knowing where he truly belonged.
Tyler was his cousin, but he always tried to make Ben feel a little less alone. He wasn't like his parents at all. He cared.
After dinner, Richard and Margaret retired to their room. Ben headed upstairs too. On his way, Tyler called out.
"Ben! Your window's still broken, right? Just sleep in my room tonight."
Ben smiled faintly.
"It's alright. Uncle said they'll get it fixed in a few days."
Tyler shook his head.
"Oh, come on. Don't be stubborn."
Ben let out a small laugh.
"Alright, alright. I'm coming."
Tyler—his cousin who treated him more like a real brother—gave him a warm nod.
Ben walked into Tyler's room, lay down… and slowly drifted off into a world of dreams.