Achilles' Heel MXM

1

"Are you lonely?(Are you lonely?) Our fingers dancing when they meet. You seem so lonely (Are you lonely?). I'll be the only dream you seek. So if you're lonely, no need to show me. If you're lonely, come be lonely with me."

-(This Side of Paradise) Coyote Theory

Third Person POV

As much as he would have liked to drown himself in the sorrows brought on by the day, Ajax reminded himself to continue and dragged himself out of his welcoming bed. By the end of the day, he only regretted his decision of perseverance more.

"I miss her too, you know?"

His few seconds of peace are chased away by the sound of his father's voice. Until now, he hadn't noticed the fatigue growing on his father's face. The wrinkles that plague his once smooth, stubbled face, seem so out of place. The dark circles under his eyes only serve as testimony to his ever neglecting health.

"She would've been sixty-three years beautiful today. I would remind her every second. She would've tried to cook instead of going out, she used to hate it when I tried to spoil her", he says with a saddened smile

Ajax's words seem to escape him as his father continues to crumble under the weight of his mother's death. He was his mother's favorite and it showed with the way they would cook together everyday and do everything together. She was his everything. He was only eleven when she died, yet every year it feels as if time moves even slower without her.

"She would've been proud of you", His father continues. "You've grown into a strong young man, I'm proud of you"

Ajax had always been closer to his mother, whereas his sister was his father's favorite. Ajax hadn't really minded. In his eleven-year old mind he valued the time his mother gave him more because he enjoyed her company rather than his father's. He enjoyed cooking and baking rather than tinkering and watching football.

"She wouldn't want you like this", Ajax starts "She would want you to take care of yourself, She loves you"

"Loved, She loved me", Ajax's father corrects, then retreats out of the office.

On any other day, Ajax would be able to put on his mask, the award winning smile, he flashed so often, but today wasn't like any other day.

On the occasion of his mother's death his mind takes him back to the bedroom where she slept. The cream colored wall that they had painted together.
The painting that decorated the walls that they had painted together.

The dresser that continued to fall apart no matter how many times his father claimed to fix it.

He had gotten up very early that December morning and made her breakfast in bed. His father and sister went to her favorite bakery to get a cake before she woke up. He remembered the quiet steps he took to her room, so he could surprise her. He set the tray on the dresser and proceeded to shake her awake.

Only she didn't wake up. She laid there lifeless. Ajax sat beside her bed in the once beautiful room that now seemed to get smaller by the second.

You're human too, He reminds himself.

Being unable to continue, Ajax drives himself to one of his many vacation homes, but not before stopping at the beautiful Golden Gate Bridge.

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"Achilles, are you listening?"

Achilles is taken from his thoughts when his teacher, Mr. Johnson, attempts to grab his attention.

"I'm sorry, could you repeat that?" He asks, even though he had no intention of paying attention today.