The fire was dying in the fireplace and the glowing embers barely lights up the small living room. The wind howled; the snowstorm was raging outside the small building.Gabe couldn't help but to admit he hates it.
The room warmer wasn't even helping him in getting warm. "Maybe getting a bigger one might help better." He thought pulling the blanket more.
His wife Claire was in the kitchen making lunch for them. She was the breadwinner of the family until she gave birth again, it wasn't planned but they have nothing to do about the deed.
Having two kids when he have no job to cater for them is stressful, he has lost count of times he drops his application for an interview. He always get the same answer. "Mr James, you will get back to you." They never do.
He tried working at a restaurant but it didn't work out for him, the pay was so small to take care of their needs for a day. And it is a monthly payment, how is they going to survive through the days?
Thank Goodness the apartment they stay in belongs to his wife, she has gotten it as her share from her father's inheritance. The flat upstairs was empty, they'd put out flyers for a while now but no one seems to be interested in getting it.
He sighed rubbing his temple, things are not going well for him. He never planned his life to be like this, hell nobody wishes his life to be like this.
He'd tried setting up a business of his own but they never work. Nobody wants to work with an outcast as they always call him.
"Gabe dear, do mind helping me with Daniel? He has been whining about his game console." His wife called out. Right another promise he failed to fulfill, he had promised his eldest son a new game console since the old one got marched by Claire.
"I want my game console now." His wailing pierced the room. Gabe walked towards him, he picked him up and draped him over his shoulders.
He dropped him in the comforter. "Who is a baby now?" He tickled him, his laugh erupted the room as Gabe continued to tickle him down.
"Daddy stop please, it is hard to breathe." Daniel panted coughing.
"What if we do this? You pass your summer class and I might be so nice to get you not only a game console but the latest Need For Speed?" Gabe said.
Daniel didn't rise to the bait, he has been that countless time before. He might just be eight but he knows everything that takes place between his parents. "Okay." He finally said, making his way to his study.
Gabriel remained still, watching his son's retreating figure. He also made his way to the living room to take a seat on the old loverseat by the chimney.
"Stop worrying too much. We will have a solution." An arm wrapped his shoulders and Claire's soft lip pressed against his lips.
He turned to her, trying not to quirk his brows. "You think so? The month is coming to an end and I even can't keep up my promises to the kid anymore." He pinched the bridge of his nose.
"I know, that's why I said we will pass through it. Now why don't you make yourself useful in the house and get us some canned milk? I think I still have the fifty dollars from yesterday in my pocket." She said putting her hand in the back of her faded jeans to bring out the money.
Gabriel gave her a soft smile. "I love you and I can't even imagine life without you baby." He confessed kissing her bottom lips.
He puts his coat on and headed for the door. The snow blocked almost all the pavement, making it hard for him to work to the gate.
The shopping mall was a minutes away from the house, he loves walking down there. Sometimes he plugs his headphones and forget about what his world is going through.
But today was different, he forgot his phone and headphones at home because he left in a hurry. A myriad of emotions flickered his face when they settled into one clear expression of hope. Or not.
Gabriel saw a flyer or rather poster being pasted on the notice board of the shopping mall. SxE company were looking for a someone that is specialized in hacking and anything that has to do with computer science.
He walked towards the notice board to have a closer look, of course he is qualified. He had spent fours years in college studying programming.
He ripped a flyer and crumbled slowly into his pocket, he will check it out more when he reaches home but now he needs to get Claire the canned milk.
He walked inside the shopping mall with his head hung low, he doesn't want attention being attracted to him now. He picked a canned milk, checking it out.
This days things in New York City were getting more expensive that some could hardly buy it yet the government never care.
The canned milk worth thirty dollars, just for two cans. He should have gone back to the countryside and maybe get himself indulged in farming and poultry.
Gabriel shakes his head at the thought, no way his wife will even agree to him leaving her for the countryside. She hates it there, the place is known for robbery and murder. She won't lose her husband over that.
He moved to the counter where the bloke behind eyed him. Gabriel has seen him a couple of times before, they never seem to like each other.
"That will be 33.2 dollars, with cash or credit card?" The bloke asked.
"Cash." He passed him the almost-torn fifty dollars.
The bloke muttered something that no one heard him, Gabe knew it had something to do with him but he shrug it off. He won't fall into his bait, well not maybe another time.
He collected the package from the bloke and made his way back home. He sang Love Is Gone by Dylan Matthew, not that his heart is broken or he is in his feelings but because he loves the song down to earth.
He pushed the door to the apartment opened and met his wife seated on the couch with jay on her laps. It seems like he just woke up from sleep and has been crying his eyes out.
"Look whose here Jay, dada is back." She smiled pointing at Gabe.
He walked toward to put the baby on his arm and passed her the milk. "Thank you." She murmured pecking him on the lips.
He watched as she walked back into the kitchen, to probably complete her cooking. "Hey baby, did you miss daddy? Because daddy missed you." He tried to tickle Jay in a way not to hurt him and a way not to disturb Daniel that was in the study.
Jay giggled at his father. "Dada." He breathed out. Benjamin Gabriel was born to the world a year back, at first he was not a healthy child. Scratch that, he still is not, but he is getting better.
They were able to pay his hospital bills by selling some of their things like the Mini Cooper they had. It was even surprising Jay survived the attack because his body was not responding to the medicine but guess miracles do happen right?
"Yes, it is dada." He mumbled nuzzling his nose in Jay's neck. He loves doing that to all his sons, and they love it too, sometimes Dan will ask him to do it to him countless times.
"Lunch is ready." Claire shouted from the kitchen. The small dining table was situated in the kitchen, the living room has no more space to accommodate the table except if they will remove some other things.
He removed his coat when the flyer or rather poster he had crumbled fell out of his pocket. He picked it to read it again. The deadline was tomorrow, so he would better get ready for it after lunch.
"Hey, what is that?" Claire asked eyeing the paper in question. "Nothing to worry just self about. It was the mail I received last week from Ukraine, I thought I had threw it away but I forgot." He tried masking his lies with a laugh, a cough got in between his cough.
"Okay." She said sounding unsure. "Just don't hide things from me, I mean you don't that anymore." He said and he nodded.
He doesn't want to tell her because she will have her hopes high and things might not go there way. He would rather wait till after the interview and whatever comes after it, he will inform her.
At least she won't be too disturbed about him getting the job. And he had already made a decision to get a low paying job anywhere if he doesn't get this.
"God, help me through." He prayed.