For Life

Part 14

"I still can't believe you're doing this" Dec frowned at his mother "it's completely pointless,I won't change my mind,it's over between me and Ant"

Ant glanced at Dec sadly,he didn't want to admit that he had hoped that Anne's crazy plan might just have worked but it looked like Dec wasn't going to budge.

"We'll see about that" Anne said softly and placed one hand on Dec's,squeezing it tightly,then placing the other one on Ant's.

It felt very strange to both men.

Dec's mum sat between the now ex lovers,holding onto their hands.

"So" Anne began "I now know why you finished with Ant and frankly,you are being ridiculous"

"No,I'm not" Dec snapped.

"Yes,you are" Anne insisted "you love each other and are meant to be together"

"It's not as simple as that" Dec shrugged.

"It doesn't have to be complicated" Anne replied "you're the one making it that way...do you still love Ant?"

Dec squirmed in his seat and attempted to pull his hand free from his mother's,but she held on tightly.

"Well,do you?" She repeated.

"Yes" Dec whispered sadly.

"And Ant?" She turned to the nervous man sat on her other side "do you still love Dec?"

"Absolutely" Ant replied "I will until the day I die"

Dec shook his head despairingly.

"You need to move on Ant" he stated "I have"

"Doesn't look like it" Ant snapped "your mum has told me you're not doing great and this place is a pigsty"

"How would she even know?" Dec retorted,now yanking his hand out of Anne's forceful grasp "it's my life,not hers"

"So?" Anne asked ignoring Dec's anger "you think going on tour means you can't be in a relationship?"

"It wouldn't be fair" Dec shrugged.

"To who?" Anne continued.

"To Ant obviously" Dec replied "I can't expect him to wait over two years for me"

"Maybe I want to wait" Ant shrugged "did that even cross your mind?"

"That's why it would be unfair" Dec sighed "it would be selfish of me to even put you in that position"

"I can make my own decisions" Ant frowned "I'm an adult"

"Barely" Dec shrugged,having a slight dig at Ant's young age.

"What about what's fair to you Declan?" Anne smiled "what do you want?I mean,what do you really want?"

"I want to be happy" Dec whispered,trying to fight back the tears.

"And what would make you happy?" The caring mother asked.

"My music" Dec replied "the tour...all of that"

"That's your work" Anne pointed out "and I know you love it,but there's more to life than work"

"That's not what you were saying when  you were forcing my seven year old self to sing for hours on end" Dec pointed out "no matter how upset I got"

"And look where it has got you" Anne retorted "but that's not what we're talking about right now,I want to know what would make you truly happy?"

"Love I guess" Dec smiled "friendships,knowing I belong"