(Not) Destined To Be

Zelfonus

John walked through the halls of the university. Classes ended and he was going home. His head hung low as always. He watched his feet proceed to move over the floor. His black leather shoes shone in the sunlight, which entered the halls through the high windows. A sudden hand pushed the books out of his arms. He looked up and saw some gentlemen chuckling. He kneeled down and picked up his books without a word before exiting the building. The sun shone too brightly for 4pm. John proceeded back home. He lived with five friends; don’t ask how that went well. When he neared his home he saw Louis gardening again. “Good afternoon Louis”, he greeted his friends. Louis Patton looked up from the newly-plant flowers. He didn’t smile, just nodded. John knew well that Louis wasn’t the smiling or the talking type; he was all about stillness. The door to the mansion was open for fresh air to enter. The smell of dinner exited as John self entered. Edward was probably cooking. The child taught himself to cook and was now, at the young age of 15, the best cook John had ever known. “John, is that you?” The youngest of the household stood on the top of the stairs. Roy Callington came running down the stairs and hugged John’s legs. “I have missed you! How was university? I cannot believe you are smart enough to study there!” Roy had admired John Holl the moment the child laid his big round eyes on the man. John chuckled and tried to pat the boy on the head while still holding onto his books. “Excuse me! But I study too! Why do you respect John so much and not me at all?” The loud voice of Mike Rivers sounded behind John. John turned and smiled at the other youngster. Mike was two years older than Roy, but almost just as wise as Louis, who was five years older than him. “Excuse me gentlemen, but I wish to put my books in my room.” He tried to walk past Roy, but the teen stopped him and took a few of his books without a word. John was used to this. Roy’s only life goal was making John proud and John had been proud of him all along. However, John never told him how proud he was, but John wasn’t the best with words. If he was, he wouldn’t be in his current position. Some people got a voice you would listen to no matter what and others just don’t.

Later that evening went John for a walk alone. His mind had been occupied lately and he needed a breather. The cold night air blew softly and the sun had set a few minutes ago. While walking through the beautiful night streets of Victorian London, John Holl’s thoughts went everywhere. It went to the day his mother helped him get away from his self-centred father, to the day he received a letter with the announcement of his mother’s death caused by the man he used to call father, the day he swore to change the world and become a better man than his father. His mind flew off to the day he met Charles. Oh, good old Charles Colston. John had been so lost that day, but an angel found him, an angel named Charles Colston.

John remembered that day like it was yesterday. It was his first day at a public school, around four years ago. The sixteen years old lad was already picked on by the people of the upper class. John was just a mere middle class after he left his parents and couldn’t afford the lux of the high-quality clothing the other students were wearing. His wounds were nothing big, but he still went to the school doctor to escape classes with the bullies. He there met the nicest, funniest and most intelligent medic he ever met and his name was Charles Colston. Charles threated him nicely and gave John a place to go to if he wanted to escape the bully storm in school.

John smiled at the memory of teenage him asking Charles excitedly to live together just outside of London with the two only friends he made later, Edward Longford and Mike Rivers. Edward and Mike worked as cleaners in the school. Edward currently did the cooking in the household and sold his art. It was not the best, but it had something, which couldn’t be resisted by real collectors. Mike decided to go to school himself. He went only a few hours a day and cleaned the other part of the day to afford his schooling. John loved coming home, since he knew that Mike would’ve cleaned his room, which always left a glorious odour.