Nostalgia

His knees buckle...
 
Memories. Lots of memories.
 
Ma's slender hand, guiding his little one as he clumsily makes a brushstroke.
 
Sneaking up behind Da as he tends the beans to scare him, Da acting startled and wrestling him to the ground, ending in a raucous tickle fight.
 
Trying to teach Eker how to tie her shoes, and getting frustrated because she's not a BIG 9 year old like him who knows how to do such things.
 
Da congratulating him on the "fine work" he did on his first commisioned painting. As he proudly puts the crude picture of vegetables on the wall, he says "The best 4 copper I ever spent!"
 
Ma saying "Yes, Mel. I *do* know how many children we have. However many are hungry and sitting at our table, they are all ours, at least until the meal is done."
 
Da: "Your names are Leth and Ol, you say? Nice to meet you! Hope you'll stay with us as long as possible." and Ma: "I don't know what I was thinking using the spare room as a studio anyway. Shouldn't bring work home!" As two small children cling to Melech's robes in the front room.
 
Love. That's all this house ever had in it. Pure love and caring. And now, GRIEF.
 
Knees hit the ground.
 
His head snaps up.