Runaway. / Aletyler

reconnect

Tyler stood nervously outside Lindsay's door, his heart racing with a mixture of fear and hope. He hadn't seen or spoken to her in over a decade, not since the day he walked out on her and their less than one-year-old son, Wayne, to start a new life in California. But now, at the age of 28, he found himself back in Toronto, desperate to make amends for the mistakes of his past.

With trembling hands, he knocked on the door, waiting anxiously for a response. And when the door finally swung open, he was met with a pair of fiery blue eyes and a look of pure anger on Lindsay's face.

'What the hell are you doing here, Tyler?' she snapped, crossing her arms over her chest.

Tyler took a deep breath and tried to steady himself. 'I want to talk to you,' he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

'After ten years?' Lindsay scoffed. 'You think you can just waltz back into my life after abandoning me and our son? You have some nerve, Tyler.'

'I know I don't deserve forgiveness,' Tyler said, his voice cracking with emotion. 'But I had to try. I had to explain myself.'

'It's too late for that,' Lindsay said, her voice cold and distant. 'You missed out on everything, Tyler. Wayne's first steps, his first words, his first day of school. You weren't there for any of it.'

Tears welled up in Tyler's eyes as he remembered all the milestones he had missed. He had never wanted to leave Lindsay and Wayne, but at the time, he felt like he had no other option. The stress and self-hatred had consumed him to the point where he couldn't even stand to look at himself in the mirror.

'I'm so sorry, Lindsay,' he said, his voice filled with regret. 'I never wanted to leave. But I was in such a dark place back then. I thought I would be better off dead.'

Lindsay's expression softened slightly, but she still looked skeptical. 'I don't understand. Why did you have to leave? Why couldn't you just get help?'

'I tried,' Tyler said, tears streaming down his face now. 'But nothing worked. I couldn't handle the guilt and the shame. I thought leaving you and Wayne was the best thing I could do for you both.'

Lindsay's eyes softened as she looked at the broken man standing in front of her. She could see the pain in his eyes, and she couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy for him. But her anger soon resurfaced as she remembered the hurt and betrayal she had felt when he left.

'You think that gives you a free pass to come back into our lives?' she said, her voice laced with bitterness. 'You think that makes up for everything you put us through?'

Tyler hung his head in shame, unable to meet Lindsay's gaze. 'No, it doesn't,' he said quietly. 'But I'm here now, and I want to make things right.'

Lindsay let out a bitter laugh. 'Right? You mean like how you made things right with Alejandro?'

Tyler's head snapped up at the mention of Alejandro's name. He hadn't expected Lindsay to bring up his brief fling with the man he had met in College. It had been nothing more than a physical release, but he knew it was 'wrong'. And he had regretted it in some ways ever since.

'That was a mistake, Lindsay,' Tyler said, his voice pleading. 'I was confused and lost, and I made a terrible decision. I'm not with Alejandro." Tyler lies, knowing that the spaniard was sitting in Tylers hotel room as they spoke. "I've never even put a label on it.'

Lindsay rolled her eyes, clearly not believing him. 'Well, congratulations on another mistake,' she spat. 'You now have a perfect replica of yourself running around. For fucks sake he even wants to join the hockey team when he gets into middle school!'

Just then, the front door opened, and Wayne stepped inside, throwing his backpack on the floor and heading towards the kitchen. He stopped in his tracks when he saw his mother and a stranger in the living room.

'Who's this, Mom?' he asked, looking up at Lindsay with a curious expression.

Lindsay's face twisted into a look of anger mixed with pain. 'This is no one, Wayne,' she said, her tone sharp. 'Just a reminder of all the mistakes I've made.'

Tyler's heart broke at the sight of his son. He couldn't believe how much he had grown in ten years. And he still had the same piercing brown eyes as his father.

'Is he my dad?' Wayne asked, pointing at Tyler.

Lindsay's face turned red with anger. 'Don't be ridiculous, Wayne,' she snapped. 'Your father is dead to us. Just forget about him.'

Tears welled up in Wayne's eyes as he realized what his mother was saying. He turned to Tyler, his face filled with sadness. 'Hi, Dad,' he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Tyler's heart swelled with emotion at that moment. He wanted nothing more than to embrace his son and make up for all the lost time. But he could see the hurt and anger in Lindsay's eyes, and he knew he couldn't force his way back into their lives.

'Wayne, I…' Tyler began, but he was cut off by Lindsay's voice.

'Get out, Tyler,' she said, her voice cracking with emotion. 'We don't want you here anymore. Just leave us alone.'

Feeling defeated, Tyler turned and walked out the door, his heart heavy with regret. He had hoped to make things right with Lindsay and Wayne, but now he realized that it might never be possible.

As he walked down the familiar streets of Toronto, he couldn't help but wonder if he had made the biggest mistake of his life by leaving them all those years ago. And now, with a son who looked just like him, and an ex girlfriend who hated him more than she hated more than her dad.