It was the middle of the night. A boy around twenty years old was taking out a bag of trash. His name was Daniel. He had graduated from high school three years ago with his whole life ahead of him, but all good things eventually come to an end.
Tragically, his dad had gotten into an affair with a coworker. Daniel's mom first heard about it from someone else and seemed calm at first, but Daniel knew it was just the calm before the storm. Over the next few weeks, their home was filled with tense arguments that eventually turned physical. His mom often started the fights. Daniel tried to reason with them, but they brushed him off, treating him like a kid interfering in adult business.
"Guys, come on. Can you both stop fighting, please? There has to be another way to handle this," Daniel said with a tired voice.
"Daniel, stay out of this. This is between me and your father. We'll settle things one way or another," his mother snapped.
At first, Daniel thought they were going to divorce, but he hadn't expected his mom to be against it. She believed that every lock had its key and every key was made for a lock. She still wanted to work things out, but her way of doing that was questionable.
"Daniel's son, would you please stop your mother? She's being very unreasonable," his dad called out.
Daniel just stared at him blankly, his face saying, Don't look at me. You did this to yourself.
After five minutes of beatings, Daniel's dad shouted in frustration. "Damn it, woman, I said I was sorry, okay? What more do you want from me? I deleted her number. I even quit my job. What more do you want? I was thinking with my lower half, okay?"
His mom laughed. "You were thinking with your lower half, huh? Maybe we should do something about that lower half." She grinned with a twisted smile.
His dad froze for a moment, then raised his fists. "Damn it, woman, you've taken this far enough. If you try anything else, I'll fight back."
She laughed again. "Oh, you're going to fight back now?"
"That's right, and I ain't holding anything back."
Daniel sat in a chair, watching the two of them. "Oh, he's fighting back now? Took him long enough." Judging by his tone, this wasn't the first time. Every argument ended in chaos. He stayed tonight because he thought it might get too serious. Now, watching them slap and scratch each other, he sighed. "I guess some things never change," he muttered, checking his phone. It was 7:30 PM.
He knew he wouldn't get any sleep if he stayed. Calling a number, he waited for someone to answer.
"Yooo, what's up, D?"
"Hey, what's up, Kev? You don't mind me coming over tonight, right?"
"Oh yeah, my parents said they don't mind. You're like family—you don't have to sneak in anymore."
"Oh yeah? Hahaha, right," Daniel said with an awkward laugh.
"Umm, not really. My mom just saw you leaving a few times. She kinda figured it out. I, uh, told her what's going on. She pressed it out of me."
"Oh, I can't believe my dear son ratted me out like this. Sad times we live in."
"Listen, I said I was sorry, okay? I'll make it up to you."
"I guess this unfilial dad will have to forgive his good-for-nothing son."
"Anyway, bring an extra controller."
"What? I swear the last time I was there you had like four controllers. Or am I crazy?"
"Listen, Dad—within thick fog, one can lose their sense of direction," Kevin said seriously.
"Uh-huh…"
"Just bring the damn controller, dude."
Click.
Daniel laughed at the abrupt hang-up, but the smile quickly faded. "Guys, I'm leaving! Be back tomorrow," he called out. No one answered. Only grunts and curses filled the air.
He went upstairs, packed a few things, grabbed an apple, and took one last look before leaving. Kevin's house was only four blocks away, so he got there fast. After setting his bike down, he knocked a few times.
Kevin's mom, a kind-looking woman with brown hair and a few wrinkles, opened the door with a smile. "Oh, hi dear. You finally made it."
"Wait, you knew I was coming?"
"Oh yes. I told Kevin to let me know when you got here."
"Oh… yeah," Daniel said, scratching his head. "So you don't mind me coming in, do you, Mrs. Parker?"
She pulled him into a hug.
"Wait, Mrs. Par—"
"Listen, Daniel. I've been in your situation before."
"…Wait, you have?"
"Yes. My parents used to fight in front of me and my brother too. But trust me, it's just a part of life. You'll get through it. Things do get better."
"You sure?"
"Maybe… like fifty percent sure."
"Huh? But you just said—"
"I know what I said. Things can go either way. Life hits hard sometimes. But no matter what happens, never stop getting up. Once you give up, you lose something you can't get back. Anyway, come in. Want something to eat?"
Daniel stepped inside. "No thank you, Mrs. Parker."
"Really? I made my famous lasagna."
"…Uh, sure. I'll take a piece."
"Yoo, Daniel! Come on!" Kevin yelled from the basement.
"Kevin, hold on! Daniel's hungry. Go ahead, dear, grab a piece."
"Actually, Mrs. Parker, I'll grab some later. Thank you, though."
"KEVIN!" she snapped.
"What?! Mom, I didn't do anything! He just said no. Okay, let's go, Daniel!"
Daniel waved politely and followed Kevin downstairs.
"So what's up with your mom, Kev?" Daniel asked.
"She was talking about how she went through the same stuff I'm going through."
"Oh yeah. My grandparents basically cheated on each other. One thing led to another and my grandma tried to kill my mom and uncle. Grandpa stopped her just in time."
"Whoa… That's way more serious than what I'm dealing with."
"Yeah, it was rough. I'm surprised she even talked about it."
"Guess she was trying to make me feel like I'm not alone."
"Did it work?"
"Kinda."
Kevin handed him a blue controller. The basement was full of shelves stacked with games, consoles, and two PCs. Daniel was always amazed.
"Man, this room is still insane," Daniel said.
"Thanks, dude. But you sure you don't wanna play this new game with me?"
"I'd rather not," Daniel said, shaking his head.
Kevin sighed. "Why not?"
"I already feel like crap. I don't need to feel worse getting destroyed online."
"Yeah, but that's the fun part."
"Getting destroyed?"
"No, the comeback. When everything's against you and you win anyway—that feeling is unbeatable."
"That sounds great and all, but no. I'll just chill with a single-player game."
"Alright, suit yourself," Kevin said. "Oh, and my PC's updating. Feel free to use my dad's. Just don't open any weird folders."
"Why?"
"Trust me, you don't wanna know. I've been there. Save yourself the trauma."
"Noted."
They each got lost in their own games. Daniel played a single-player RPG while Kevin fought through online matches.
Five hours passed.
After ten straight losses, Kevin stared blankly at the screen. "Man, I don't think I can play anymore. Maybe D was right." He glanced at the time, yawned, and grabbed a blanket. "Yo, Daniel, grab some food if you're hungry. Blanket's in the usual spot. And if you need anything else, just let me know, I'm—"
He passed out mid-sentence.
Daniel laughed softly. "Thanks, man." Then he turned back to his game.
Six more hours passed.
Daniel couldn't sleep. No matter how tired his body felt, his mind wouldn't rest. Something kept scratching at the back of his thoughts. I hope they at least saw the letter I left for those idiots…
Earlier that night, James, Daniel's dad, had just taken a punch to the eye from Lucy, his mom.
"Damn, Lucy, wait—I gotta ask Daniel where he's going—"
He backed away, but she gave him no space.
"Don't worry, dear. He's off to Kevin's place. I talked to Kevin's mom. She said he's welcome anytime. So don't worry about him. Worry about yourself."
She grinned and threw another punch. James blocked it, then bumped her nose to make some space.
"Can we stop now?" he asked, catching his breath.
Lucy chuckled, blood dripping from her nose. "You know, it's going to take more than that to stop me."
James frowned and raised his hands. "Timeout."
You said:so what i mean is use quatition marks question marks periods and commas just that no moreChatGPT said:
It was the middle of the night. A boy around twenty years old was taking out a bag of trash. His name was Daniel. He had graduated from high school three years ago with his whole life ahead of him but all good things eventually come to an end.
Tragically his dad had gotten into an affair with a coworker. Daniel's mom first heard about it from someone else and seemed calm at first but Daniel knew it was just the calm before the storm. Over the next few weeks their home was filled with tense arguments that eventually turned physical. His mom often started the fights. Daniel tried to reason with them but they brushed him off treating him like a kid interfering in adult business.
"Guys come on can you both stop fighting please there has to be another way to handle this" Daniel said with a tired voice.
"Daniel stay out of this this is between me and your father we'll settle things one way or another" his mother snapped.
At first Daniel thought they were going to divorce but he hadn't expected his mom to be against it. She believed that every lock had its key and every key was made for a lock. She still wanted to work things out but her way of doing that was questionable.
"Daniel's son would you please stop your mother she's being very unreasonable" his dad called out.
Daniel just stared at him blankly his face saying don't look at me you did this to yourself.
After five minutes of beatings Daniel's dad shouted in frustration. "Damn it woman I said I was sorry okay what more do you want from me I deleted her number I even quit my job what more do you want I was thinking with my lower half okay"
His mom laughed. "You were thinking with your lower half huh maybe we should do something about that lower half" she grinned with a twisted smile.
His dad froze for a moment then raised his fists. "Damn it woman you've taken this far enough if you try anything else I'll fight back"
She laughed again. "Oh you're going to fight back now"
"That's right and I ain't holding anything back"
Daniel sat in a chair watching the two of them. "Oh he's fighting back now took him long enough" Judging by his tone this wasn't the first time. Every argument ended in chaos. He stayed tonight because he thought it might get too serious. Now watching them slap and scratch each other he sighed. "I guess some things never change" he muttered checking his phone. It was 7:30 PM.
He knew he wouldn't get any sleep if he stayed. Calling a number he waited for someone to answer.
"Yooo what's up D"
"Hey what's up Kev you don't mind me coming over tonight right"
"Oh yeah my parents said they don't mind you're like family you don't have to sneak in anymore"
"Oh yeah hahaha right" Daniel said with an awkward laugh.
"Umm not really my mom just saw you leaving a few times she kinda figured it out I uh told her what's going on she pressed it out of me"
"Oh I can't believe my dear son ratted me out like this sad times we live in"
"Listen I said I was sorry okay I'll make it up to you"
"I guess this unfilial dad will have to forgive his good for nothing son"
"Anyway bring an extra controller"
"What I swear the last time I was there you had like four controllers or am I crazy"
"Listen Dad within thick fog one can lose their sense of direction" Kevin said seriously.
"Uh huh"
"Just bring the damn controller dude"
Click.
Daniel laughed at the abrupt hang up but the smile quickly faded. "Guys I'm leaving be back tomorrow" he called out. No one answered. Only grunts and curses filled the air.
He went upstairs packed a few things grabbed an apple and took one last look before leaving. Kevin's house was only four blocks away so he got there fast. After setting his bike down he knocked a few times.
Kevin's mom a kind looking woman with brown hair and a few wrinkles opened the door with a smile. "Oh hi dear you finally made it"
"Wait you knew I was coming"
"Oh yes I told Kevin to let me know when you got here"
"Oh yeah" Daniel said scratching his head. "So you don't mind me coming in do you Mrs Parker"
She pulled him into a hug.
"Wait Mrs Par"
"Listen Daniel I've been in your situation before"
"Wait you have"
"Yes my parents used to fight in front of me and my brother too but trust me it's just a part of life you'll get through it things do get better"
"You sure"
"Maybe like fifty percent sure"
"Huh but you just said"
"I know what I said things can go either way life hits hard sometimes but no matter what happens never stop getting up once you give up you lose something you can't get back anyway come in want something to eat"
Daniel stepped inside. "No thank you Mrs Parker"
"Really I made my famous lasagna"
"Uh sure I'll take a piece"
"Yoo Daniel come on" Kevin yelled from the basement.
"Kevin hold on Daniel's hungry go ahead dear grab a piece"
"Actually Mrs Parker I'll grab some later thank you though"
"KEVIN" she snapped.
"What Mom I didn't do anything he just said no okay let's go Daniel"
Daniel waved politely and followed Kevin downstairs.
"So what's up with your mom Kev" Daniel asked.
"She was talking about how she went through the same stuff I'm going through"
"Oh yeah my grandparents basically cheated on each other one thing led to another and my grandma tried to kill my mom and uncle grandpa stopped her just in time"
"Whoa that's way more serious than what I'm dealing with"
"Yeah it was rough I'm surprised she even talked about it"
"Guess she was trying to make me feel like I'm not alone"
"Did it work"
"Kinda"
Kevin handed him a blue controller. The basement was full of shelves stacked with games consoles and two PCs. Daniel was always amazed.
"Man this room is still insane" Daniel said.
"Thanks dude but you sure you don't wanna play this new game with me"
"I'd rather not" Daniel said shaking his head.
Kevin sighed. "Why not"
"I already feel like crap I don't need to feel worse getting destroyed online"
"Yeah but that's the fun part"
"Getting destroyed"
"No the comeback when everything's against you and you win anyway that feeling is unbeatable"
"That sounds great and all but no I'll just chill with a single player game"
"Alright suit yourself" Kevin said. "Oh and my PC's updating feel free to use my dad's just don't open any weird folders"
"Why"
"Trust me you don't wanna know I've been there save yourself the trauma"
"Noted"
They each got lost in their own games. Daniel played a single player RPG while Kevin fought through online matches.
Five hours passed.
After ten straight losses Kevin stared blankly at the screen. "Man I don't think I can play anymore maybe D was right" He glanced at the time yawned and grabbed a blanket. "Yo Daniel grab some food if you're hungry blanket's in the usual spot and if you need anything else just let me know I'm"
He passed out mid sentence.
Daniel laughed softly. "Thanks man" Then he turned back to his game.
Six more hours passed.
Daniel couldn't sleep. No matter how tired his body felt his mind wouldn't rest. Something kept scratching at the back of his thoughts. "I hope they at least saw the letter I left for those idiots"
Earlier that night James Daniel's dad had just taken a punch to the eye from Lucy his mom.
"Damn Lucy wait I gotta ask Daniel where he's going"
He backed away but she gave him no space.
"Don't worry dear he's off to Kevin's place I talked to Kevin's mom she said he's welcome anytime so don't worry about him worry about yourself"
She grinned and threw another punch. James blocked it then bumped her nose to make some space.
"Can we stop now" he asked catching his breath.
Lucy chuckled blood dripping from her nose. "You know it's going to take more than that to stop me"
James frowned and raised his hands. "Timeout"