The Man Who Never Speaks

26. The Man With The Long Speech

"A string that pulled me
Out of all the wrong arms right into that dive bar
Something wrapped all of my past mistakes in barbed wire
Chains around my demons, wool to brave the seasons
One single thread of gold tied me to you."
————

A year full of rollercoasters, first steps, anxiety, love, more anxiety and more love had passed by. Raising Fredrick together was the most wonderful thing the happy couple had done so far and they couldn't be prouder of where they were today. Sometimes it felt as if they were still there at the side of the road on Alice's first day in town, but two and a half years had passed ever since the first time they had looked at each other.

Their lives had so majestically changed. FP had learned how to open up to the world and accept the love she was willing to give him, a gift that he didn't take for granted, not for a day. And tough their relationship couldn't be broken by anything, every single day he proved her how much he adored her.

Alice had learned to face her pain, to embrace all the skeletons in her closet, before they would lock her inside with them. She became the town's most beloved mayor and finally had the family she had always wished for. Life wasn't dark anymore. Life was bright, full of love, full of happiness and dreams.

That morning, FP had woken up in the cabin with rays of sunshine shining on his eyes. He had let Alice sleep for a little longer, while he took Fredrick out of his crib to make their way to the living room.

Today, they were going to celebrate his first birthday and he had insisted on throwing the party in the cabin. It had been way too long since he had last slept there, so last night had been a nice trip down to memory lane. It was still part of his home and he wanted for his son to grow up with memories of this place.

After feeding him, FP had put down a piece of paper and handed him over a few coloring pencils, so he could have something to entertain himself with until his mother would wake up. He clasped it into his tiny hand and randomly doodled on the white piece of paper, making his father look at him proudly.

"Look at you, my talented little man. You're so good at this." He encouraged him sweetly, as he held him tighter in his hold.

"You're going to be artist, just like me." He grinned as he saw Fredrick reach for another pencil, which he helped him grab. FP let him draw for a little while, before pressing a kiss on top of his head and lifted him up.

At his feet, he felt their black furred kitten against his legs, trying her hardest to get some attention too. Every single day he was grateful for having rescued her. He was sure she was his bringer of good luck.

"Hey Suzie, I haven't forgotten you sweetheart. You want some cuddles too?" He sweetly tickled her head and smiled as she jumped on the table, to rest there.

FP put Fredrick tightly on his hip as he stood up and turned to the couch, where above he had hung some of the work he had made a while ago. After some more encouragement from Hilda, the sweet woman on the Greendale Fair who made him something every year, he had been successfully selling some more paintings. However, some of those were just too precious. He kept those for himself, as his own treasure.

"Look, you see my work?" FP gestured to the small wooden wall and smiled to himself when he saw his son looking at it with big curious eyes.

"That's you, the first week after you were born." He pointed with his finger to the painting of Alice holding him, which had become one of his favorites.

There was something really special about painting his family. It was the one thing he believed he would never get the chance to, but the proof that the universe had its mysterious ways hung up there.