The Barefoot Violinist

Waifs and Strays

Cory had spent nearly two months with his parents. Once he'd put down the phone with his mother, he immediately packed his bags to take the next available flight out. At first, his parents didn't know what to do with their moody, moping son, but Cory sat them down one day.

"I've met someone." he stated, looking from one to the other. When they nodded, he continued, "His name is Bennett and he means the world to me, but I've hurt him a lot..." 

For the first time, Cory let his parents into the world that he'd experienced, he told them about how he was at school, meeting Bennett, how he'd changed and how he'd hurt the most important person to him. They sat listening silently.

Cory could tell that his father was uncomfortable with the conversation. He never liked talking about personal problems and always boxed himself off in his office. He also didn't know what to do with this upset child in front of him. He looked over to his wife, who nodded.

"Cory, what is it that you need? Just name it and we'll make sure that you have it." she looked concerned, but also like someone who wanted to make the problem disappear.

"I just need some help." Cory said in a small voice. He didn't have much hope that his parents would know what to do, but at the moment everything felt like a weight sitting on his chest, making it hard to breathe. He couldn't eat or sleep properly and he felt worn out. The thought of what he'd done, dragging like a cross around his shoulders.

His hand automatically moved toward his heart, where the cross that Blue had sliced into him, had left a permanent scar to remind him of his own stupidity, his carelessness and his love for Bennett. It reminded him of all the terrible things he'd done to the person he loved the most. It will always remind him of Bennett.

Getting up, his mother grabbed her phone that was always within reach. Making a call she whispered hurriedly into the phone, shutting it off a few minutes later. "Here," she said holding a card to out him.

"What's this?" he asked taking the card and turning it around in his hand. A psychologist! This was the last thing he needed. He needed his parents, and they hand him over to another person.

"She's the best." his mother told him, sitting down next to him. "Cory, being a parent wasn't easy for me... for us." she gestured to her husband as well. "We were young and just getting the company started and didn't know what to do with a baby. So, we did what we thought was best. Obviously we were wrong." she sighed, looking down at her lap, then back at Cory.

"But that doesn't mean we love you less. It's just..." she sighed again. "If you give me a business problem, I can solve it in a minute, but when it comes to people, I just don't have a clue. I'm sorry if we've hurt you." she finished, placing her arm around his shoulder comfortingly.

"You're a bit like Bennett. He thinks he can solve half the world's problems with one thought, but when it comes to people, he is a bit lost." He smiled.

"Then if you love him Cory, do what you need to do to win him back. Like a hostile takeover of sorts." she smiled at her own analogy. "But things don't go away by willing them away or by trying to forget. Love cannot be your only driving force, you need to understand why you're doing this, otherwise you'll be buying a sinking ship, thinking it will hold."

This was the most Cory had spoken to his parents in a long time. His mother's advice surprised him and he had nothing to lose by talking to someone, he thought to himself.

A few days later, he nervously turned the card in his hands once more, before entering the building where the psychologist was situated. When he stepped into her office, he'd expected to find a couch and an old lady like on TV, but he was surprised to see a modern office and a young woman with a welcoming smile on her face.

The first time they'd spent over an hour together and after leaving he felt more at ease with talking to her. For the first few sessions they didn't discuss Bennett at all, instead focusing on Cory. He didn't enjoy the experience much. Looking at yourself in the mirror, it was easy to see the ugly parts, but it was harder to try and accept them. But he pushed through. This was for his happiness and the happiness that he wanted to share with Bennett.

Cory had been updating Bennett's social media pages and sites, while he was with his parents. He knew that Bennett wouldn't look at them and that his friends would avoid telling him anything, just in case he freaked out. The plan to arrange an online photo competition came to him when he'd missed Bennett most. He was tired trolling the internet for new pictures of Bennett, so the competition was the next best thing. He had to plan it carefully so that nobody suspected him, especially Bennett.

He looked down at the two printed photos he had in his wallet. Bennett smiling with his red scarf and one sticking his tongue out at the camera. Cory couldn't get enough of looking at those pictures. Having them on his phone wasn't enough, he needed them to be physically next to him. He clung to them with all his life and all his hopes.