Life wasn’t easy for Micheal. He had hoped that his family would be different than the one he had grown up in. Their lives were different, but they weren’t any easier or much happier.

Micheal worked long hours trying to make enough to pay the bills. Victoria worked part-time to be able to be home for Jackson, but she would often call in and refused to take additional shifts.

Micheal would come home to a filthy house, with franks and beans for dinner, and Jackson needing help with homework or a bath.

Micheal and Victoria would go out for drinks or karaoke when they had a babysitter. Victoria would complain about being bored when they didn’t. She disliked the apartment. She wanted nice things. She wanted more attention.

Sometimes when they went out, Micheal would catch Victoria being flirtatious. This would usually end in a big fight.

He would come home from work and catch Riku, the neighbor, leaving the apartment. Victoria would insist that they were just friends. She was home alone all day since she quit another job.

Micheal grabs a pillow and blanket and sleeps on the couch.

Victoria loves Micheal, but thought he worked to much and was too critical of her. It was his job to take care of her and Jackson. He left her all day in this dirty apartment where something was always broken.

She had too many responsibilities. She was young and she wanted to enjoy life. Micheal was always angry or tired when he came home from work. He wasn’t any fun anymore. Just because she had a child didn’t mean her life was over.

She missed having Micheal fawn all over her and tell her how beautiful she was. He didn’t appreciate her anymore, but Riku did. He gave her the attention she craved. He told her she was gorgeous and deserved better than the dump Micheal provided for her.

They began seeing each other while Jackson was at school and Micheal at work.

Micheal comes home early, just as Victoria is leaving Riku’s apartment. They have a huge fight. Victoria denies anything is going on. He packs a bag and leaves.

Jackson comes home from school to find his mother crying.

“Your daddy left us,” she sobbed. Jackson wrapped his arms around his mother to comfort her.

Jackson is lost without his father. His mother is crying or complaining about Micheal. Jackson is left on his own to get ready for school.

“Daddy,” Jackson calls Micheal one night, “I miss you.”

Micheal returns home under the condition that Victoria stay away from Riku. Victoria agrees. She is growing bored with him anyway and she has seen him bring new girls to his apartment.

Not long after Micheal returns, Victoria tells him that she is pregnant. She swears the baby is his, but Micheal has doubts.

He again packs up and leaves. He needs time to think.

Micheal stays away this time. He picks up Jackson on the weekends to see his grandma. Jackson cries when it’s time to return home. Micheal barely speaks to Victoria.

Victoria has the baby and names her Addison. Micheal visits her at the hospital.

“We could be a family again,” Victoria says. Micheal shakes his head.

However, he can’t stop thinking about his family. He feels bad for Jackson. Despite what she’s done, he loves Victoria.

Micheal goes to the apartment to pick up Jackson for their weekend visit. No one answers the door. Micheal hears the baby crying inside. He waits, but neither does anyone come to the door or the baby stop crying. He goes inside. He finds the baby, hungry with a dirty diaper.

He finds Victoria staring at the wall.

“Victoria,” he shouts, but she continues to stare at the wall.

He changes the baby and feeds her. Content, she looks in his eyes and falls in a peaceful sleep. He can’t fault her for the actions of her mother and she could be his baby. Maybe he was a terrible father as his had been.

Jackson returns home. His face lights up at the sight of his father.

“Daddy,” he cries jumping into Micheal’s arms.

Micheal’s anger dissolves. This is his family. He loves them. He wants to be with them.

He notices Victoria leaning against the doorway, tears streaming down her face.

“I’m sorry,” she whispers.

Micheal moves back in.

They move out of the apartment and Victoria never talks to Riku again.

They move into a trailer. It’s a little bigger than the apartment, but not much nicer.

At first things are better. Victoria finds a job. She cooks. She takes better care of the children, but soon Micheal begins taking on more of the cooking and childcare. Victoria gets fired and finds another job. They struggle to make ends meet.

Micheal takes Jackson fishing. He loves it. He feels relaxed. At home, he has to help out a lot.

Jackson takes care of his little sister while his mother rests or has friends over.

Micheal hopes this is truly a new beginning for his family.