They stand in front of a seven storey building painted yellow with a blue roof, it has different windows which makes it look more like a condominium.
"I live on the fourth floor"Mark said to his daughter.
"That's nice Father."Valeria replied smiling and follow her father who started walking towards the building. She looks around and that's when she realized they drove through a gate.
"The elevator is faulty so we use the stairs instead"Mark said walking pass the elevator
"No problem Father"Valeria replied smiling and follow her father.
Few stairs later, they are on the fourth floor, Mark walk towards his room's door and gave it a soft knock before entering the room.
Mark Melvin has been working far from home for seven years now and this is the first time one of his children will be coming to where he stays. James has once come to the company he works but didn't get the chance to visit where their father lay his head. Their mother stays with their father anytime she comes to the city of Chicago and has never mentioned where their father stays so it explains why he was acting all weird.
"Come in Valeria"Mark said as he entered the room. Valeria enter the room smiling.
The room is a room self apartment, it is tiny and stuffy for one person to stay talkless of two people. It looks like a small cubicle, good thing it has a toilet and kitchen of its own but no bed.
"Feel at home"Mark said fidgeting. This is the first time Valeria will ever see him like this so she try to make him calm.
"Home sweet home, I'm exhausted"Valeria said leaving her luggage by the door and walk down to the small space for sleeping and sit on the floor.
"Do you want water or juice?"Mark asked his daughter
"Water please"Valeria replied knowing he probably doesn't have juice. Mark walks to the kitchen to get her water.
"Thank you father. When will mother be back?"Valeria asked collecting the water from her father.
"She should be back in few minutes"Mark replied
"Okay father"Valeria said.
"I know you have a lot to ask me but can it be after your mother is back or during dinner?"Mark said holding his daughter's hand in his.
"Chill Father. We can talk about that later"Valeria replied smiling trying to make him comfortable
"Thank you"Mark said and sit beside Valeria.
They stay quiet till Geraldine, Valeria's mother come in.
"Hi mother"Valeria hugs her mother with tears she has been holding back
"My baby girl"Geraldine pets her with tears
"Why did you and Father keep his situation a secret? For seven years? I thought we are family. Mother, we were supposed to have each other's back! No secrets! This doesn't worth to be a secret, this is our problem! This is what makes us a family!"Valeria said with tears. Mark and Geraldine listen to her with tears in their eyes.
"I'm sorry Valeria, I just couldn't bring myself to tell you your father is a loser. I couldn't bring myself to tell you your father lives where dogs can't survive."Mark said with tears
"I'm not angry about the fact that you stay here but I'm angry that you are staying here for us to survive. We all sleep in a comfortable house while the one who provides stays where dogs can't survive."Valeria replied with tears.
"About your father not telling you about this place, all we did was avoid you feeling guilty."Geraldine said wiping her tears.
"Okay, the deed has been done so now let's call my brothers and tell them about this because I can't keep it a secret from them if you can"Valeria said making her final decision, her parents nods knowing they have no other choice. The family settle then Valeria put a video call through to James who picked immediately.
"I will be calling everyone on conference call please ask Francis to join, this is the time to set our differences aside"Valeria said and James respond by telling others the message. Valeria added others to the call.
"Mother and Father has something to say"Valeria said giving her parents an encouraging look
"How are you doing today sons?"Mark asked his sons summoning his courage as he consoles his wife who is shivering.
"Very well Father"They responded guessing something is wrong
"I'm sorry sons, I couldn't bring myself to tell you that your father is a loser"Mark said and both Valeria and her mother burst into tears
"Loser? You're not a loser father"James who is still not understanding the situation said
"I don't know where this is coming from"Albert added not understanding what is happening
"Valeria and Mother are crying then something is clearly wrong"Benedict said with worry
"Did you get sacked?"Francis asked childishly
"Not at all, I will show you what's wrong"Valeria said after summoning courage. She knows she has to be there for her parents, she turned the back camera and show them what the house looks like, she stands and give them a tour of the house as they gasp.
"Where are you guys?"Benedict who is finding it hard to believe his father sleeps there asked
"This better be a prank, this is father's basement right?"Albert who can't believe it either said
"This is where father has been living for the past seven years, he couldn't tell us because he thought we would be insensitive about it or not accept him"Valeria explained before any insensitive comments rush in.
"I understand why he didn't let me stay the last time but can you let him know we feel guilty? Father, you could have atleast told us about it. You are suffering to give us a well deserved life, how can we be comfortable when you are sleeping in a suffocated environment. We understand all this is for us but this is unacceptable, how do you want us to wake up great while you wake up with pain?This is all our fault father"James said with anger and pain
"We are sorry father"All of them chorused including Valeria who is still crying.
"None of this is your fault children, I want you to have a better life than this and I will do numerous things just to make you happy and live a better life"Mark said after summoning courage and knows he needs to face his fears
"I'm sorry for keeping this from you my children, I and your father just want you to focus on what's more important" Geraldine said supporting her husband
"We are sorry too and we promise to give you the best life once we start earning enough"Benedict who now feels guilty about not going to school said
"I want you to promise me you will focus on what's necessary instead of worrying about me"Mark said and they all nod
"Thank you Valeria"Geraldine said hugging Valeria with tears
"Talk to you later, we want to have family time excluding you guys of course"Valeria said cheering up the atmosphere and they all laugh.
The family had a peaceful night, no more secrets or reasons to get angry, the place was small but manageable.