The Fall of the Aftons

035: Michael Afton

Michael was strangled in a massive hug before he could try to apologize. 

"Dieu merci, you're okay!" William exclaimed gratefully, his voice so loud that it hurt Michael's ears. 

Michael hugged William back, guilt-induced tears falling from his eyes. He hadn't meant to worry anyone. He just had to get away for some time. "I'm sorry, William!" he cried. "I hadn't meant to make you worry. I'm sorry."

William leaned back a little to study Michael. "It's all right, Mike," he said reassuringly. "Come on. We'll talk more at home."

Despite what William said, their conversation started in the car on the way home. Terrance wasn't with them, so it didn't matter. He needed to stay at the hospital overnight so the doctors could make sure that nothing set back his recovery.

"Mike, I'm so sorry that all of this happened. I don't know why Terrance acted like that. He's never done that before," William said sadly, giving a glance at Michael through his rearview mirror before he looked back to the road. "If something bad happened to you after you ran off... I don't think I'd ever forgive myself. I need to keep a better eye on you as your guardian. I'm so sorry."

Michael looked at his hands, which were folded gently in his lap. "It... It's not your fault," he mumbled. He grabbed onto the stones attached to his family necklace. "I don't fit in all that much. I don't blame him for faulting me."

"What in the world are you talking about? You fit in just fine," William exclaimed confidently. "You're a member of the family, blood-related or not!"

Michael looked out the window, unsure of what to say. Then he remembered something he'd wanted to bring up. "The man on the PA system said that he was looking for Michael Afton to return to Terrance's room. Is that what you told him to say or did he say that because he knows you?"

William hesitated. "I didn't know him. I know a lot of people in Hurricane and New Harmony, but I don't know all of them." 

"So you..."

"I told him to say that, yes," he murmured.

The next thing he knew, Michael was crying. Not a lot, but he was still crying. He didn't know why, but he was.

"Are you--What--I--Why," William stammered nervously. He looked as if he was ready to pull over. "D-Did I step too far? I'm so sorry, Michael, I didn't mean--"

"No! No, no, it... it's okay," Michael said as he wiped his teary eyes with his sleeve. He laughed, his voice distorted by sobs. "It's fine. I don't mind." He laughed again. "I... I guess I just wasn't expecting this. I'm sorry, I don't know what's wrong with me." He laughed yet again as he brushed the tears from his eyes.

William sighed, relieved. "Nothing is wrong with you, Michael." He chuckled, as did Michael. "Where did you go when you ran off? Did anything happen to you?"

"N-No, nothing happened," he muttered. He didn't want to say where he'd gone.

"Where did you go?" William repeated.

Michael sighed. "I... I went to an empty janitorial supply closet. I used to go there a lot when my birthfather had to be transferred back to the hospital." He fidgeted with his thumbs. "The janitor never minded. She caught me going in there once when she came to grab the flashlight that I've always used to illuminate the room."

William laughed. "Sorry, sorry," he apologized, still laughing. "It's just funny. You're only three years old and you're using words like 'illuminate' in sentences already."

Michael's cheeks flamed from embarrassment. "I-Is that a bad thing?"

"What? No, of course not!" William chuckled. "Have you been actually reading all of the books that you asked for? Like, reading the words on the pages?"

Michael barked out a laugh, surprised by the odd question. "Why wouldn't I be? That makes no sense. If I wanted to look at pictures, I'd find a photo album or picture book."

"So you know how to read?" William asked as Michael crossed his arms. "You read a sentence and understand what it says. That's true, right?"

"Yes, I can comprehend a sentence in a book." Michael chuckled. "Why do you ask?"

William shrugged. "I've never met a three-year-old who can read."

"I'm sorry for being so cocky," Michael muttered after a few moments of silence. "I didn't mean to be."

William chuckled. "It's all right, bud. In this instance, you should be proud of yourself. Reading is a very important skill to have, and the fact that you have it so early on in life is great." After a few seconds of silence, he groaned. "Shit. Now I have to call Terrance's tutor to cancel," he muttered.

"What tutor?" Michael asked, then shook his head. "Never mind. It's none of my business. Sorry."

William pulled into a driveway--it took Michael a moment to realize it was the driveway of their house--as he gave a small chuckle. "Would you like to know?" William asked, opening his car door. "It's probably best if you know. That way you won't be surprised when you see a random guy come to our house three times a week."

Michael climbed out of the car and pushed the door shut. He pulled up the hood on his jacket when a strong, frigid breeze whipped around. "I guess."

William led Michael into the house and closed the door behind them. "Have you ever heard of dyslexia?" He sat down on the couch in the middle of the living room as Michael stood in front of him. "Or dyscalculia, for that matter?"

Michael gently shook his head. "No, I have not."

The doorbell rang and William stood up from the couch, grumbling something about "always early." Michael watched as his father opened the door and let in a girl that looked to be around Terrance's age. She was wearing her sunny blonde hair in a messy ponytail. She had pale blue eyes that were so pale that they were almost white. She was pale with rosy red cheeks and dimples, and she was wearing a baggy, bright turquoise sweatshirt and torn-up jeans.

"Lo, you drive me crazy with how early you always are!" William said as he pointed a playfully accusatory finger at her. 

"Sorry, Mister Afton," she muttered apologetically as she rested her hand on the back of her neck. She smiled sheepishly and William chuckled. He led the girl to the couch and told her to sit down. "Apollo, this is Michael. Michael, this is Apollo. He's Terrance's closest friend and tutor."

"Hey, Terry is my tutor, too!" Apollo exclaimed, laughter filling his words. He turned to face Michael. "It's great to finally meet you, Michael. I've heard many stories from Terrance." He glanced around the room, frowning. "Speaking of Terrance, where is he? I wanted to ask him something."

"Are you going to finally ask if he can cut your hair?" William joked, chuckling.

Apollo crossed his arms, leaned back on the arm of the couch, and smirked. "Actually, yes. Yes, I was. I've waited too long. It's time to do it."

Michael looked around, no longer paying any attention to the conversation. He gently grabbed onto his necklace as he scanned the room for the clock. Once he found it, he saw that it read that it was only five. Even though it wasn't even dinner time yet, he was exhausted. Be he didn't want to go to bed just yet. So instead, he hesitantly poked William's leg, trying to get his attention.