The tragedy of Will Solace

How I started playing Guitar

Lisa left, as planned, shortly after lunch. During her absence, Lee was in charge. Indeed, even if Louis was older, Lee had seniority.

The first few days were rough. Will lost much of his appetite and was on autopilot for most of the day. In Chiron's absence, the older kids, particularly the Athena campers, were in charge of most of his classes, but he could barely pay any attention. The boy did become a master in bandages since bandaging his arms and ankles is what occupied most of his time. Every time Oscar or Mary asked him if he wanted to do something, he declined with some weak excuse.

However, his siblings didn't simply stand by.

Funny enough, David was the first to break through his walls. Out of all his siblings, David was the shyest. It was actually rare for a child of Apollo, the famously outgoing and too full of himself god. He was quiet, and always acted like a fish out of the water, except in the music room. Will went there for the music lesson and barely paid any attention. However, in the end, after all the other kids were gone, David asked him to stay.

- Hey Will, Ummm... I've been working on a cover, and I was wondering if you could stay for a little while and help me out.

Will nodded distractingly. It's not like he had any plans. David reached for a guitar instead of staying on the piano. At least this caught Will's attention.

He first noticed the melody. It was a little sad, but also hopeful. There was something incredibly soothing about it. Suddenly, he felt safe, in a way that he hadn't felt since... well, maybe forever.

He was barely listening to the lyrics until some words caught him off guard:

"See, my old man's got a problem

He live with the bottle, that's the way it is

He says his body's too old for working

His body's too young to look like his

My mama went off and left him

She wanted more from life than he could give

I said somebody's got to take care of him

So I quit school and that's what I did"

For a second, he couldn't breathe. Why was David singing this?

He was stunned for a moment, until the words and the melody caught him again, becoming stronger and stronger.

"City lights lay out before us

And your arm felt nice wrapped 'round my shoulder

And I-I had a feeling that I belonged

I-I had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone "

He felt the song, with every fiber of his being. Whatever David was doing, he had never felt it before, and he was no stranger to listening to people play music.

"I got a job that pays all our bills

You stay out drinking late at the bar

See more of your friends than you do of your kids

I'd always hoped for better

Thought maybe together you and me'd find it

I got no plans, I ain't going nowhere

Take your fast car and keep on driving"

How could it feel so hopeless and hopeful at the same time?