Finding Life Again

CHAPTER 21

The next day after they woke up, Noah left with his parents to visit their family on the other side of the country. They had left earlier than intended to celebrate Christmas. Thinking to spend more time with his grandparents and cousins he hadn't seen in a long time.

Kai, unfortunately, couldn't due to sharp death ends for his project. Also, he didn't want to go earlier than necessary. 

He gave a lot of thought to his family relationships. There was no way to fix a bond with parent's, but the one with the twins could get a second chance. The truth was, he missed them, and he wanted them back in his life.

He got to understand better the situation around him. His mother was right that he most likely drowned in his misery, abandoning his family but siblings. They haven't done anything wrong, and they lost his big brother. Kai wasn't upset. He was angry at himself, his parents, family, life, and everything around that brought him into this stupid situation.

Sitting on the train, Kai tried to put all his thoughts together and calm down. Getting angry at home was out of consideration. He couldn't afford to spoil Christmas when the only thing he wanted was to get close to Aida and Mark.

When the train reached the station, everyone headed to the exit. Kai waited in his seat for a few seconds longer to avoid any unnecessary triggers. By the time he got to the bus station wading through snow and mud on the pavement dirtying his black timberlands, the bus was full of people. 

After taking a few deep breaths, Kai stepped into a hot mix of sweaty stench, sharp perfume and intense cigarettes odour. Holding on to Leo and their post-Christmas plans in his head Kai used all his strength to don't throw up on his knees, ignoring his surroundings as much as he could.

As he suffered for almost forty minutes and two gags during the drive, the vehicle stopped at the station close enough to take a walk to his house for the rest of the remaining distance. Nothing changed much in his neighbourhood since the last time he visited. The area around him covered in a thick layer of white snow. Trees lost the fewest pieces of leaves and in the gardens grew floppy shaped snowmen. It was late afternoon, and it was getting dark earlier this time of the year. Maybe next time, Kai thought as he walked, he could try to get the tickets a little earlier because the ones he bought were at twelve, given the two-hour journey, bus and walk. That took a long time.

Nearly slipping on the frozen puddle, swearing a couple of times, Kai got to his house. Taking the bag down from his shoulder, he ringed a bell and walked inside. Aida marched through the living room and welcomed him with a short 'hi'. 

There were two more people apart from his parents and twins, Auntie Helen and her husband, Rick. Kai liked her the most of all his mother sisters. She was a kind and good person. Her husband was the funny and bold type, always sneaking him candies when he was little. Kai would cry each time when they were leaving after family gatherings. 

Helen and Rick were people he would love to have as parents. The problem was that they never wanted to have kids.

"Kai! Oh my. I didn't know you are coming." Helen embraced him tightly. "How are you?"

"I'm well, thank you. How are you two doing? I haven't seen you at the wedding." Kai gave half-hug to Rick, who walked closer to them, smiling widely, throwing a joke at Mark on the way while laughing wholeheartedly.

"We were on holiday in Spain. My friend Rita lives there, so we went to see her." Helen said.

"I'm sure the wedding was great, but you know. Priorities." Rick added, patting him friendly on the shoulder.

Kai chuckled while taking off his black puffer coat. They walked into a beautifully decorated living room. In the corner, next to the back doors leading to the backyard, stood a Christmas tree decorated in crochet stars, angels and bulbs with the white chain of lights only. Kai was amazed by a charming hand-made decoration.