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Post by butter on Jun 17, 2007 23:22:34 GMT -4
Mike
"Thanks, Dad," I said, managing a small smile. "I appreciate that, I really do." I stretched out my arms and hugged him again. "Thanks for... always being there."
I pulled away, and looked at him in the face with a sobered expression. "Man, Dad, it must have been rougher for you, I mean... you loved Mom a lot, and you lost her... twice..."
I swallowed. For the first time, I actually felt... something different deep in my chest, and I glanced over in Ailyn's direction. "Is that really how you feel toward her, now?" I whispered.
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Post by tallboydave on Jun 17, 2007 23:26:05 GMT -4
Andrew
I followed Mike's gaze. "Yes, Ailyn is special to me, just as Len was special to me.." I whispered in reply. "It was rough. You saw how far I sank into myself after Len died; I'm just thankful I had people to help be come back out into the world once more..."
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Post by butter on Jun 17, 2007 23:28:42 GMT -4
Mike
I tore my gaze away from Ailyn, and looked back at my Dad. Part of me... still felt betrayed, somehow. And yet...
"But..." I fumbled for words for a moment, then I finally blurted out, "After you've lost someone you truly loved... how can you possibly love someone else, just as much? How could you just... let that person, replace who you lost?"
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Post by tallboydave on Jun 17, 2007 23:32:36 GMT -4
Andrew
I fixed Mike with a serious stare. "I still love Len, Mike, don't get me wrong. But if you keep pining away after an ideal like I did for so long. you'll end up a pale shadow of yourself."
"Besides... in a sense, Len is still with me, here..." I tapped my chest.
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Post by butter on Jun 17, 2007 23:38:35 GMT -4
Mike
I felt a smile spreading across my face. I knew my dad had not forgotten Mom, but perhaps I just needed to hear him confirm it. But then my smile slowly vanished. "But," I said slowly, shaking my head, "do you think... I might find someone else, someday?"
I sighed. "And... would it be worth the risk? What if I... just get hurt again?"
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Post by tallboydave on Jun 17, 2007 23:47:04 GMT -4
Andrew
"Risk is a part of life, son. If we don't risk, we never achieve. I know a famous poem on this subject, by Rudyard Kipling:
If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you, If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too; If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or being lied about, don't deal in lies, Or being hated, don't give way to hating, And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise.
If you can dream — and not make dreams your master; If you can think — and not make thoughts your aim; If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two imposters just the same
If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings And never breath a word about your loss.
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with Kings — nor lose the common touch, If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you, If all men count with you, but none too much; If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds' worth of distance run, Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, And — which is more — you'll be a Man, my son!"
I recited the poem softly, in a clear voice.
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Post by butter on Jun 17, 2007 23:56:44 GMT -4
Mike
I considered his words silently for a few moments, then nodded slowly. That was... one of the many reasons why I respected and admired my Dad. He just... he was really wise, sometimes.
"I'll think about what you said," I finally said. "Come on... I think the others are waiting for us..."
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Post by tallboydave on Jun 18, 2007 0:17:23 GMT -4
Andrew
"Yeah, we'd better head on over." I agreed, falling behind my son and stretching out my neck to deal with the soreness in it.
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Post by butter on Jun 18, 2007 1:00:33 GMT -4
Mara
It seemed as though everyone was busy making conversation until it was time for us to depart. I saw Mike and Andy go a short distance away where they talked for a few minutes, then eventually rejoined us. However I quickly turned my attention away from them, and back to John.
"So, are you looking forward to this dinner?" I asked, the side of my mouth quirking upward a little.
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Post by tallboydave on Jun 18, 2007 1:05:49 GMT -4
John
I smiled as I stood beside Mara, basking in her aura. "Yes I am Mara..." I smiled, leaning in to kiss the upturned corner of her mouth. 'Well, you know how I am; as long as I'm with you, I'd happily jump into a river with bricks in my shoes...' I reminded her. 'It's amazing, really...' I added. 'We've been married for many years now, and we still love each other as much, if not moreso, than when we first married...'
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