The Tragedy of Marco

Chapter IV: The Past

10th March 1999 - 25th September 1999

On Marco's 10th birthday, Mary and Leo announced that they are renovating their house. Throughout the years they had made enough savings to build a bigger home on foundations of the old one. Everyone in the neighbourhood helped them, even Marco build a thing or two with his father.

The new house was an idyllic yellow house with a flower garden facing the street. It was not the biggest but it was surely the loveliest home in the area.

All the Garis family was excited about the renovation, but the most thrilled was, of course, Marco Sebastian. He ran up and down the stairs, touched everything new and asked questions about this and that.

12th November 1999 - 9th March 2004

Soon after the renovation, another stirring building appeared on the street. John, a neighbour and friend of Garis family, revealed that he would open a bar. The entire neighbourhood was invited to the opening ceremony. Mary thought of the bar as an invitation for overdrinking and she was not at all excited about it. Nevertheless, she went to the ceremony in hopes that it would be the last time she had to enter in it. Leonardo, on the other hand, was happy about it, as he finally had a place to drink beer at. He often gathered there with his friends and stayed till late at night. Mary was worried about him, but she tolerated the actions and tried to keep positive.

10th March 2004

Leo usually returned around 23:00 o'clock, but it was on Marco's 15th birthday that he went there and didn't return till late in the morning. Both, Mary and Marco were worried about him and even though, they knew where he was, none of them went to the Baron Bar to get him home.

When Mary woke up the next day, she hoped to see Leo by her side, but he wasn't there. Fear filled her body and seconds later came anger. She sat in the living room and waited. She remained there for more than three hours; and then, finally, the doors opened.

"Welcome home. I am glad you remembered you have a family," she said quietly.

Leo smelled of whiskey and sweat, and his eyes were blood red. He sat next to Mary and answered: "Mary, my love, my head hurts. I am an idiot, I should have drank less."

"Maybe you shouldn't stay there for so long. Maybe you shouldn't go back there."

"I am sorry Mary, I was celebrating Marco's birthday."

Mary now raised her voice: "You know Leo, usually you celebrate your son's birthday with your son!"

Leonardo said nothing. He went upstairs, took a shower and got in bed for about 2 hours. It was Saturday, so he didn't have to worry about his job. And as it appeared, he didn't worry about anything that day. Not even his wife.

*

When Mary calmed down, she began to think she might have overreacted. After all, it was the first time he had done something like that. Minutes later Mary became paranoid that he might turn out like her father, who was a heavy drinker. He died of cirrhosis.

"No, no, no. My Leo is not like him. No, of course not. He will not leave his family for alcohol. Leonardo loves me. Yes. He loves his family," Mary whispered to herself.

She went upstairs, woke Leonardo up, and apologised to him. He then did the same and everything seemed to be the same again. Mary's anger was cooled down and Leo promised her, he wouldn't go drinking that often anymore.

In the next years, Leonardo drank less and worked harder. Soon he was announced the director of the town's post office.

The family seemed to have everything. Leonardo was now on an important working position, Mary was content with her work in pastry shop and was planning to open her own shop or maybe take over the one she worked at. Marco was now in grammar school and he was doing great. His grades were more than above average, teachers liked him and he had quite a few good friends. But when he came home, there was no one he could talk to. His father was busy working and his mother was even busier trying to make a career and planning garden parties at the same time. Marco was used to always having one of the parents available for a chat and all the stress about work was new to him.

He became an observer in his own house. He was waiting for the right opportunity to make his parents obvious of the fact that they still have a son. But usually Mary was "too tired to think about anything right now" and Leo promised to help him with his homework tomorrow. It was a cycle repeating itself.

Marco started writing a diary. Every day he would write a short paragraph about his day and soon the notes replaced his parents. He began to write more and more, paragraph after paragraph, notebook after notebook. He hid them and never told anyone about them. Not even his best friend. It was his escape from boring and ignorant reality he was living.

July 2008

Soon after finishing high school, Marco decided it is time to move on his own. Mary and Leonardo approved of his mature decision and supported him financially. Mary was now the owner of town's pastry shop and Leo was a successful businessman.

Together they began looking for a flat close to university. The search made Marco joyful, as it was the first thing in years he did with his parents. Together they found a lovely one-room apartment with a balcony.

In about a month, Marco's room was empty and a family portrait was the only trace of him ever living there.