Chapter 25:

Words from the Heart:

Sleep is for the weak.

Steve-o – my hacker friend - had once told me that a long time ago. And boy, he wasn’t exaggerating either. Those guys hardly ever slept and if they did, it was for only an hour or two before going back to their computers to hack away like there was no tomorrow. I was in awe of them, I’ll tell you that much and although they did their best to draw me into their world, I knew I’d never reach their near super-human skills.

I wonder how they’re all doing now. Spider, AcidX, Timberwolf, D-Zee and Alex Jay (who was actually a girl but you’d never know it with the way she dressed and acted.). It’s been a while since I’ve talked to any of them and besides, they had warned me not to contact them…at least in public. It’s all a part of the secret code – never to disclose who they were to anyone. Hell, if we met on the street, we were never to give each other a sign of recognition. It was a tough rule but necessary all the same. However, all of that seems like it happened a million years ago. It’s as if I lived another lifetime with those guys. I look back now and see a kid of thirteen going on fourteen, all legs and arms and dirty looking - even though I tried to wash myself as best I could most of the time. But if you had told me back then - while running errands for those guys and sleeping on the bare floor at night with only a jacket to keep me warm - that I would be lying in a million-dollar penthouse with a guy like Heero Yuy by my side, I would have laughed or worse knocked you out cold. The most a guy like me could have hoped for, was finding a decent job, getting enough money to finish high school and then working full time as a mechanic when I graduated.

So who the hell’s this kid laying on this bed now? Whatever happened to that bright-eyed kid with no real clue, who was just struggling to live day to day? Who had to be careful of what streets he walked, had to fight sometimes just to survive and got rejected in more places than he would have liked? The Duo back then would have scoffed at this lifestyle. He would have laughed and made fun of ‘we rich people’ trying to act like they owned the world. He would have hated guys like me and yet…isn’t that what he’s eventually become?

“Karma’s way of saying kudos, huh?” I whisper into the darkness. Wasn’t that what Zechs told me yesterday? But really…what was the kudos for? What fantastic thing did I ever do to deserve this?

/You survived. /

Yeah and so? Wouldn’t anyone have done the same thing if they were in my shoes?

/You’ve got to take what’s rightfully yours. /

But what is rightfully mine? I never grew up with that guy. He never held me in his arms. He never saw me in person. Christ! We could walk down the street at the same time and not even know we were related…unless someone pointed out the resemblance of course. And yet…all I can really claim is that he banged a pretty girl named Eleanor some seventeen years ago and tadaa! Here I am! The wonderful fruit of his manly loins!

“So wrong…”

I groan and rub a hand over my eyes, knowing that sleep is no longer going to be possible with the way my thoughts are running all over the damn place. Heero stirs a little beside me but otherwise is as silent as a mouse. I swear the guy sleeps like the dead – well he is a light sleeper of sorts, but after last night’s partying with Zechs, I can’t really blame him for being this tired.

Ah, speaking of last night, I guess you’d all want to hear what really happened, right? Would you believe me if I told you that he ended up taking us to a Poetry Reading? The way he had bragged about taking us to some bar to get us sloshed had gotten me all excited – even though Heero had looked totally green. Poor guy. Better yet, poor Zechs! It was his girlfriend’s idea actually. I think he was really planning on taking us to a real nightclub but he got a phone call from her on our way out. She – her name’s Noin Lucrezia by the way – told us to meet her in front of ‘The Three Frogs’ and had warned Zechs not to back out from it since he had upset her sometime during the week.

Heero and I tried not to laugh too much at how put off and yet embarrassed Zechs was after the call and reluctantly he dragged us to this cozy looking pub in the main town. It wasn’t too far from the campus and to be honest, it wasn’t too terrible either – from the outside that is. We met Noin by the doorway and she’s quite the looker. Zechs really does know how to pick his women that’s for sure. She was the one who was a pre-law student and she sorta reminded me of Hilde – short hair and all. Heero and I complimented her on it and she acted all coy, saying she had just cut it earlier that week. Zechs said he liked it that way and the next thing you know, the two of them begin to suck face right in front of us!

Anyway, into the bar we finally go and the first thing to hit me is the smell of cigarettes. Oh man, did my shakes start up again or what?! It was a typical bar scene – dim lighting, soft music, round tables with chairs all around with the mingled smells of perfume, sweat and sex. People sat in corners, nodding softly to the music – kinda sounded like bebop and jive all in one. I was sure some people were smoking pot in there but I kept my thoughts to myself and spent my time watching Heero with great interest. Even now, I can’t help laughing a little at how bug-eyed my boy had looked at the sights and sounds. I was sure that Heero had never been in a club before which is kinda surprising…or maybe not. With the way the boy was raised, it’s a miracle he even accepted me as his partner.

So we got us a good table…with four other ‘groovy’ couples – you know, dark sunglasses, tons of peace symbols and beads around their necks while dressed in dashikis like they had suddenly discovered their African roots. All four were Caucasians. They introduced themselves – names I’ve already forgotten and yes, like I had thought, there was a lot of weed about the place. Zechs warned us not to touch anything and like a big overprotective brother, he ordered non-alcoholic beverages for us. I think he was only doing this because Noin was attached to his side like a leech, otherwise the boy would have pumped us full of alcohol and left us to our own devices. Good thing too. I doubted I could have afforded to get myself drunk…or Heero for that matter. It still didn’t stop my urgent need for a cig. My mouth felt so dry and my hands were trembling so badly, I was sure the others would notice it. Heero did, of course, and – God bless him – had a few extra sticks of gum in his pocket.

In a few minutes, the poetry readings began and damn it was the most boring and yet amusing thing ever. Some people would walk up to the stage and drone like robots, reciting stuff about watching the clouds in the sky or the butterflies fluttering or shit like that. Others would come on, all sinister or morose looking, fall silent and just when you think they’re not going to say anything, they suddenly launch into a tirade so loud, I spilled my drink and Heero nearly knocked his cup to the floor, in surprise. But that was one of the few good ones and I did clap in appreciation. However, we were all surprised when the moderator for the evening – a guy who looked like he had just stepped out of a sixties time capsule – called out Noin’s name. Even Zechs looked shocked as his girl walked up to the stage to recite the prettiest – yes, prettiest since there’s no other word to describe it – poem dedicated to her boyfriend extraordinaire. Zechs was pretty damn red-faced by the time she was through and Heero and I clapped till we could clap no more. It was just plain awesome!

“And now, it’s free verse…guests style!” the moderator said. “Anyone is free to walk up to the podium to say a few words but please let us know…” He pointed to himself and another woman sitting in the front row. “…before saying anything. Any volunteers?”

Poetry? I don’t know jack shit about Poetry but there I was, on my feet, ready to say something that would either embarrass the hell out of me and my companions…but most importantly, Heero. I could see how wide his eyes had gotten as I took the stage and aww, he was blushing. Too cute if you ask me.

The guy announced my name and I pulled the stool closer to the microphone, not sure if my legs could handle the intense pressure I was beginning to feel. The spotlight was on me and I was sure I was sweating bullets. I tugged my tie restlessly (needed to get some damn air), closed my eyes and tried to steady my breathing. I tried to remember what the sixties reject had said earlier in the evening.

“The beauty of poetry is that it should come from your soul. Let it flow. Let it soar like a bird in flight! Let go of all your inhibitions! Don’t be afraid if it doesn’t rhyme. It’s what’s in your heart. That’s all that matters.”

What’s in my heart, huh? Boy, have I got a lot of stuff in this heart. So much stuff, it could kill me if I don’t let it out soon.

And so taking another deep breath and letting it go in a soft rush, I open my eyes and grip the microphone, searching for those blue eyes that I’ve come to rely on for support and encouragement.

“To be honest, I don’t know anything about poetry,” I begin and it garners a few chuckles from the audience. But I don’t care. I can’t see them anyway. All I see is the boy still gawking at me and as corny as it may sound, my heart literally seems to grow larger in my chest.

“I couldn’t give you a proper rhyme if I tried, but I figured what the hell? It couldn’t hurt, could it?”

Someone cries a ‘hell yeah!’ and more chuckles follow. Seriously, I wish they’d all just shut the hell up and let me get through with this before I lose my nerve.

“This is for a boy, who makes me believe I can do anything.
Funny, considering just how much I came from nothing.
I saw his picture in a newspaper
While my hands were soaked elbow-deep in dirty dishwater
He was leagues away from me – in a world I never even dreamed of seeing
But I swore – on the paper –that I’d meet him someday
And when I did…I’d knock that smug grin off his face.”

More chuckles and some clapping. My Heero lowered his head and shook it gently. I think Zechs was teasing him again.

“So I lied and cheated my way through applications
And finally ended up in his school
But would he give me the time of day? Oh no! Mr. High and Mighty didn’t have time for me.
He hated me on sight and thought me a pain.
He wanted me gone and wanted to make my life a living hell.
But one kiss…that was all I ever wanted.
Just to taste him and to satisfy the itch burning inside of me.
I dared him to give in to me – to see that I wasn’t that bad of a guy if he’d only say yes.
But he was stubborn. Oh yes, he was very stubborn indeed.
And it only made me more hor…eh…determined to get him.”

I smirked and enjoyed the laughter and louder applause I received.

“But oh, beautiful temptation
Thy name is Duo Maxwell…that would be me.”

More laughter.

“He finally gave in! Yes! And victory was mine!”

Whistles. Catcalls and I had the house roaring for me by this time. I grinned at Heero. He tried to glare back but was failing miserably. I held up a hand to silence the audience.

“A taste so succulent and divine. His lips…aaah…nothing had ever tasted sweeter.
I wanted more and more and more of this boy and I knew I wouldn’t stop until he was safe and sound in my arms.
So I chased and he ran and I chased and he ran
But oh the hunt was simply a prelude to the lust which sizzled between us.
When I finally caught my prey, I gave him no chance to deny me.
It’s obvious, couldn’t he see? That he and I were meant to be!
And in a night of endless passion, I took him as he took me and together…together…
We swam in an ocean of pure bliss.”

Some people started clapping again but I held up my hand to silence them.

“Ah, but happiness is a fickle thing, my friends
Especially when faced with great odds
You see…we were together, but we were afraid of how deep our emotions ran.
We had our arguments…distrust…fear
And yet deep down, we both knew we’d always be one.
There are times we question ourselves
We share a love feared and rejected by society
How will we ever survive in the real world?
Shouldn’t we be ashamed of what we are…the freaks we are…?
Our parents shun us and say it’s all wrong
They put fear and distance between us, hoping we’d give up this stupid ideal and face reality.
But what is reality? If not an illusion created by society’s strict laws and doctrines.
They can dictate and enforce their rules on us.
They can call us names and take away some of our rights
But they can never take away the love I have for him.
No matter how much they try.
For in my heart, he’ll always be the one for me
My soul, my refuge – a place where this once lonely orphan boy can finally come home to.”

Ah fuck…that was totally crappy. So why was I scrubbing my eyes, huh? And to make it worse, the silence in the room pretty much told me that I had made a huge mess of things. I wondered if my mike had been turned off. It seemed like I had been talking forever. I didn’t dare lift my head or even look at Heero in the face. I just wanted to get off this damn stage and…huh?

A single clap soon became a thunderous applause and I think my jaw dropped as people were on their feet! On their feet!! I could see them clearly now and geez, even some of them had tears in their eyes or were crying. I think I missed my calling. I should become a full time poetry reader. I finally looked at my table and sure enough they were standing and clapping too. Noin was in tears as well as the other four people whose name I forget. Zechs looks just as floored as he was when Noin had read his poem but meeting Heero’s eyes…ah, that sent a shiver of happiness that I can’t even begin to explain to you. He wasn’t crying – it would take wild horses pulling his teeth to get him to do that in public – but I could see it in his eyes. I couldn’t wait for him to thank me properly tonight.

The rest of the evening was a blur to me, partly because I didn’t really care much for anything that happened afterwards and because Heero was practically making it hard to think straight anyway. Many of the patrons at the bar wanted to stop by and say hello to me and they kept asking me what college I attended. It was flattering and I was tempted on more than one occasion to say I was a college student but settled for saying that I was from out of state and just visiting Zechs. The Sixties Reject guy wanted me to come back for another reading next month, but I refused of course. This time next month, I’ll be nose deep in Finals. No time for poetry then, sorry.

Zechs wanted us to crash at his place for the night, but after reminding him that I had a rather somber event waiting for me the next day, he reluctantly let us go. I won’t lie. I was pretty sad saying goodbye to him. I mean, if it wasn’t for him, I was sure I wouldn’t be able to walk into the Maxwell home again to face those people. He gave me hope again and for that I’ll be eternally grateful to him.

On the drive back to the hotel, Heero ‘thanked’ me with tantalizing foreplay and when we finally got back to our room, (hell, we could barely make it past the elevator all in our haste) well…the damn bastard made me cry with how gentle and yet passionate he was. I was a trembling mess in his arms afterwards. I guess this would be a record for us. Three times in one day? Wow. But although, it had been a good and pleasurable distraction for a while, as the clock keeps ticking away towards sunrise, I can feel my stomach churning with a fear that I can never show to Heero.

I slip out of bed as quietly as I can and rush to the bathroom. And falling to my knees, I lean into the toilet bowl and give in to my nerves until I can give up no more. Staggering weakly to my feet, I wash my mouth quickly and stare at my reflection in the mirror. My hair is in messy tangles, my face looks too white and I’m still shivering. I might be coming down with the flu or worse…

“Just…relax…there’s nothing to be scared of.”

I wash my face quickly and walk back to the bedroom with every intention of forcing myself to fall asleep again. I can see Heero’s form beneath the blanket and for a moment, I envy his position. No, he doesn’t have to be the one dealing with a family who hates your guts. He isn’t illegitimate to anyone. He has parents who love him, why should he care?

But that’s just selfish thinking on my part. I can’t blame Heero for anything. I mean, why should I?

I guess it’s TV for me then. No way can I sleep anymore anyway. But after ten minutes of flipping through all one hundred and one channels, I turn it off and sit alone in the silence, my arms wrapped around my knees on the sofa. I didn’t mean for the tears to come again, but they do all the same. The events of the day are finally catching up to me. The reality of seeing my father’s dead body, sitting through the funeral, listening to all those stories of a man I should have known…and knowing that my mother had come – yes, I did know Eleanor had shown up even though Heero didn’t say anything. Damn! But it all hurts so bad.

Oh God. Help me!

My sobs become louder and I’m not even going to try to stop them. I bury my face against my knees and decide to cry my fucking heart out.

And even when I eventually feel Heero’s warm arms around me, all I can do is lean into him and remain in his embrace until I sink into a welcome darkness of fitful sleep.

---

Archibald and Harold came to pick us up and needless to say most of the drive was a silent one. However, the old man did take the time to explain protocol and stuff, saying that all I really had to do was sit and listen, saying yes or no to any questions the attorney might ask me. It sounds easy enough, doesn’t it?

As we finally pull up to my father’s home again…even the beautiful afternoon and relative warm weather cannot stop the chill that fills my bones as we step out of the car. Heero’s holding on to me tightly and boy, am I grateful for that.

“Are you okay, Duo?” he asks me softly, our feet making crunching sounds on the dead leaves as we walk.

“I’m fine…I think.” I smile at him and he smiles back – a bit uncertain but a smile all the same. He had stayed up with me all night even watching me fall asleep and before I can stop myself, I lean close to kiss him softly on the lips. “Thank you,” I mutter before he can say anything.

“Ah, Master Duo Maxwell and Master Heero Yuy, I presume?”

I blink at the big and I mean big man in the dark suit standing on the top stair. He could easily be a linebacker for a football team if he set his mind to it but his bald spot and thick glasses tell that he’s not that young anymore. He’s smiling at me and holds out his hand for a greeting, which I return and promptly watch as my hand disappears in his.

“Attorney Ralph Roberts,” he says with a firm nod, thankfully releasing me and giving Heero the meaty handshake. “Now, if we may all proceed into the private study. I believe all parties are here now, yes?”

He talks fast but concisely – a brisk, brisk, chop, chop, let’s-get-down-to-business kind of guy. I think I like him already.

Again I step into this house that I had once thought I’d never get to see again. I swallow tightly and reach for Heero’s hand again. Doctor Garvey, his wife, son and daughter-in-law are here as well and they all give me a cursory nod, which I return as politely as I can. I doubt flipping them the bird would be a good idea at this time. The house is now filled with tons of flowers – probably from guests that had come by yesterday for refreshments. I sneeze helplessly, noticing that Camille Garvey gives me a wary look.

Geez, lady! Don’t worry; I won’t give you the flu…as much as I want to.

“Ah, and here’s Emily,” Ralph says as the petite woman comes walking down the stairs. She’s dressed in black – no surprise there, but this time in a two piece suit that accentuates her nice figure. I notice a sudden movement on the top stair and looking closely, I can see Gabriel and Amanda peering through the balustrades. I guess they’ve been told they can’t come down to hear the boring proceedings. Gabriel lifts a hand in greeting and for some reason that makes me feel a lot better. I lift a hand to wave back a little and Heero looks at me in confusion. I nod towards the stairs, he looks and Amanda immediately disappears. What the…?

“In the room, ladies and gentlemen,” Ralph is saying as he opens up the door leading to the so-called private study. “I’m sure you all want to get this over and done with as well.”

My father’s house is damn impressive. All the furnishings are just…awesome, for lack of a better word. And this private study is no different. It’s a large room with tons of books filling tall shelves on either side of it. There’s a table in the middle of the room that can sit at least ten people, which is where we are all made to sit. There are also other sofas and coffee tables around the room, places to put your feet up if you wanted to relax. Several long and narrow windows have been thrown open to let in both light and fresh air. It gives us a view of the garden behind the house and what looks like a sparkling lake hidden behind some trees. Man, this is just fucking fantastic!

/And you could have lived here…/

Trying not to sigh too audibly, I release Heero to clasp my hands together tightly, trying hard to gather moisture into my mouth as well as prevent myself from trembling too hard. God, I need a cigarette!

“Ahem,” Ralph says, clearing his throat and making himself comfortable at the head of the table. Archibald is at the other end with Harold standing beside him like a sentry. Heero and I are sitting beside each other with Matt and his wife directly opposite us. Emily’s sitting next to Ralph and her father’s by her side. Camille is beside Heero…well with one chair separating them.

“Normally, I wouldn’t allow an outside party in here,” the lawyer says, staring pointedly at Heero. “But Archibald told me that Master Maxwell insisted?” He looks at me. I look at Archibald. He nods softly.

“Ah…” I clear my throat and sit up straighter. “Yes. Yes, I did…do want him here with me.”

“Anyone object to this?” Ralph asks, looking at Emily for affirmation. I’m unaware I’m holding my breath, wondering what she’s going to say since she’s barely looked at me all afternoon. But she gives a light shake of her head and I sigh in relief. One hurdle crossed; a million more to go.

“Good. Good,” Ralph continues, as he opens up a black leather-bound folder. He takes off his glasses, polishes them, coughs and then scowls at the papers for a moment. “Now before I begin, I will present a little piece of information that was given to me this morning by Professor Archibald Winters. He says he received it on his doorstep this morning and I must say it’s quite fascinating.”

He shuffles through some more papers and my heart is beginning to pound so fast that I’m afraid I’m going to pass out.

“Here are the birth certificates of one Duo Maxwell, mother Eleanor Rose nee Maxwell and Daniel Phillip Maxwell. And since the marriage was never documented in a court-of-law, it is null and void. However, through DNA testing, there is no doubt that this young man sitting before me is Daniel Maxwell’s first son as signed and confirmed by both mother and father.”

I suck in a harsh breath in disbelief, barely registering the looks of dismay on the Garveys’ features. But as the paper is shoved towards me, there’s no denying it. It’s a certificate of my birth all right and it does have BOTH my mom and dad’s signature on it! But how…?! When…?!

“Now if we have squared that little confusion up, I shall now read the last will and testament of Daniel Phillip Maxwell…”

I turn to look at Archibald, but he only smiles softly and nods towards Ralph, urging me to listen. I try to catch Harold’s gaze but he’s not helping much either. I look at Heero and he too seems shocked at the news. I have so many damn questions to ask and it’s killing me that no one wants to give me any answers!

“…I have the following children, Duo Maxwell. Date of birth – the twelfth day of June. Amanda Summer Maxwell. Date of birth – the fifteenth day of August. Gabriel Jonathan Maxwell. Date of birth – the third day of December…”

Fuck it. I thought I was all out of tears! Why are my eyes burning up again?! I decide to stare at the solid oak finish of the table. That way no one can look at my face.

“I will, give, and bequeath unto the persons named below, if he or she survives me, the Property described below: Emily Carolyn Maxwell…”

As expected, she gets control of most of his estate, their joint account and other stuff I’m barely interested in.

“And to my first son, Duo Maxwell, whom I regret never seeing in my lifetime, I bequeath my cottage home in North Camden and everything within, for him to do and use as he sees fit. Fifty percent of my stocks and shares in various business investments and complete control of the Merck Corporation on his eighteenth birthday. The cash sum of a hundred thousand credits to his name and finally a box containing personal items, which my executor, Archibald Cornelius Winters, will give to him the day after my funeral. And to my first daughter, Amanda Summer Maxwell…”

Wha…what?! I own a house now?! A company?! Shares and a hundred thousand credits?! I don’t believe it! I don’t fucking believe it!

Something wet falls on my hand and I stare at it stupidly. Either the roof is leaking or I’m having the waterworks again.

Heero squeezes my shoulder in support. Archibald reaches out to pet my hand gently and I lift a hand to wipe my face quickly.

“…with the witnesses being Professor Archibald Cornelius Winters, Mr. Harold Donovan Winters and Attorney-at-law Ralph Roberts. Signed this fifteenth day of September.”

He takes off his glasses and wipes his brow with a handkerchief. “So, I believe everyone has no objections to this and all parties have heard and accepted the terms?” He looks at me.

“Yes, sir. No objections,” I reply as firmly as I can. My damn mind is still reeling from everything and I barely hear him pose the same question to Emily. But to my surprise and to everyone else’s she calls out my name.

“Ye…yes?” I force myself to meet her gaze, noticing that her eyes look incredibly sad and yet determined.

“I…” She wrings the handkerchief in her hand, completely ignoring the hard look her father throws at her. “I just wanted to apologize to you for…for everything. Daniel…he…he wanted to meet you so very much and I got envious of all the attention you seemed to be getting and I was afraid that he would forget about his re…his other children because of you. What happened the other day shouldn’t have happened and for that…I truly apologize. Please forgive a grieving woman’s irrational and jealous thoughts. You are Daniel’s flesh and blood even though I might continue to deny it and if he could accept you as his own…then…then I will try my best to welcome you into my home when…whenever you want to visit.”

The rest of the Garvey family looks just as stunned as I am at this little speech. Hell! Could the day get anymore surreal?!

“Than…thank you, Mrs. Maxwell,” I finally reply with a warm smile of gratitude. “You have no idea how much that means to me.”

She manages a small smile at me, turns to the lawyer and she rises gracefully to her feet. “Thank you for coming, Mr. Roberts. I look forward to speaking to you tomorrow morning. There are refreshments in the dining room if any of you are hungry. And now, if you will all excuse me. I need some time alone.”

She leaves the room without a second glance and slowly the rest of her family joins her, talking to each other in low voices as if afraid that I’ll pounce on them or something. Thankfully, they are finally gone and I let out a huge sigh of relief.

“Congratulations, son,” Archibald says, patting my shoulder gently as he too gets to his feet. “You deserve it.”

“Ah, I forgot to ask how Master Duo would like his money given to him,” Ralph adds with a wide grin. He’s busy packing up his papers.

“All of that will be taken care of at a later date,” Harold says with a nod. “I’m sure Duo wants some time alone to think through things, don’t you, Duo?”

“Ah…yeah…but…how…? The certificate…?”

Father and son exchange a glance before Archibald smiles warmly at me. “Like Ralph said, I woke up this morning to find it outside my hotel room door along with my breakfast tray.”

My eyes grow wide as a sudden thought hits me. “Eleanor…?”

Archibald shrugs. “I can only guess that she must have been the one to leave it there. However, this is for you…Harold?”

His son makes his way to one of the bookshelves and taps it gently to reveal a small secret safe of sorts. He carefully brings out a narrow wooden shoebox sized chest and as if handling a precious jewel, he places it on the table before me.

“I believe Daniel left something in there for you,” Archibald says quietly. “We will leave you alone to go through its contents. Yuy?”

“Yes?” Heero replies in a wary tone. I’m sure he doesn’t want to leave me but I smile at him in understanding. “Are you sure, Duo?”

“I’ll be fine. I just need this time alone. I’ll see you in a bit.”

“All right.” I allow him to kiss me on the forehead before watching him leave the room with the three men flanking him.

As soon as the door clicks shut behind them, the heavy silence becomes oppressing and it is only interrupted by the faint sounds of birds chirping, leaves rustling in the wind and water lapping against the banks of the lake. I eye the box warily, my heart thumping wildly in my chest. It’s of a simple design with only a lock…without a padlock and as I caress it gently, I can almost see and feel the warmth of my father’s hands touching this very same object.

I can’t even begin to imagine what could be inside, but sitting down here and contemplating isn’t going to get it opened any faster, is it?

“Here goes nothing,” I whisper softly and taking a huge breath and trying to still my thudding heart, I slowly and carefully open the lid.


~End Period Twenty-Five~