A WINTER OF CHANGE[Complete]

17

The next eight months of Benjamin’s life were busy ones, his book was about to be released and he was working with his editor day and night. Maybe he was crazy but he wanted everything to be perfect. No mistakes and errors, he suspected that the editor was so tired of his actions but he didn’t care.

Even though he was busy, not a day passed by without him thinking of Melanie. Sometimes he wanted to call her just to hear her voice but he would stop himself from doing it. He wanted to publish his book first and then he was going to go to her.

It was only a matter of months. He was going to see her again and this time he was never letting her go. He also wanted to thank her for what she had done. If it wasn’t for her then he would have never let his book out into the world.

Now he had more money than he had ever had in his life all thanks to the advance the publisher gave him. Gerald Mason was beyond ecstatic. At last he was going to save his publishing company from the mistake his son had made.

He told Benjamin that usually it took two years to get a book published but this time he was in a hurry. All he wanted was to save his company. Benjamin was just glad he wasn’t neglectful, Mr. Mason was doing anything in his power to make the book perfect as Benjamin wanted. After all, his reputation depended on it. If he messed up this time he knew it was the end for him.

Mr. Weathers stood at the window staring outside, watching the sun fade in the sky. The view was spectacular and serene. When his legs ached he went and sat down in a chair in the living room. Papers were scattered around the room. In the midst of working on his first book he was also working on the last book in the trilogy.

Every evening he went to bed so exhausted he woke up the same way. His book was being printed at the moment. The others were coming up with marketing strategies that he didn’t take part in. He didn’t have any experience in that kind of thing and there was nothing for him to add.

One thing he liked about the team he was working with was their support. Most of them did not care how he looked, they were there strictly to work and he was rather thankful for it. After a few hours of writing he called it a night.

Three months later

“I told you boy, this was a masterpiece!” Mr. Mason announced as he walked up to Benjamin. Benjamin was standing near the bar watching the party commence. A party thrown because of his success, it felt surreal, everything did.

“For the last time I’m not a boy,” Benjamin said through his teeth. It always baffled him why the old man thought he was a boy and he insisted on calling him that.

“I’m older than you,” Gerald said, taking the glass the bartender gave him.

“By only three years and you think I’m a boy?”

“Well you look strong for your age, look at me?” Benjamin took his time in inspecting the man’s body. Hair streaked with white, dull brown eyes and a big belly that threatened to spill out of his jacket.

“See? I can call you a boy as much as I want,” Mr. Mason chuckled but the other man didn’t find this funny. Being called a boy unsettled him, he felt like he was immature.

“I’m going out of town the next coming days,” he said. It felt like he was asking for permission. Well if the man said yes or no it didn’t matter.

“And where are you going? We are celebrating your success here.”

“I have some unfinished business somewhere,” he said. No need for Mr. Mason to know where he was going. That was his secret and he knew if he told this man he was going to tell Melanie that he was coming and he wanted this to be a surprise.

“I’ve never asked what’s your relationship with Melanie?”

“I worked for her family,” Benjamin said as he watched a certain woman tumble to the ground. A certain man helped her to her feet but she pushed him away muttering to herself.

“Huh! I thought it was more.” Mr. Mason left with a shake of his head. Benjamin scanned the room, almost everyone was drunk. Laughter filled every corner of the room.

He was now a best selling author with thousands and thousands of his books sold worldwide. If the numbers were to increase and like Gerald Mason had predicted they were going to, the number would hit the million mark.

That’s why everything felt surreal, like he was asleep and he was going to wake up any time and find himself back in his cabin. But something told him this was real, this was his life now. He is famous now.

It was at this moment that he remembered his mother.

Maybe if she was alive and saw this she would be proud. Back then all he wanted from his mother was her love but he never got it. She was selfish and he was a mistake.

He took in a deep breath, the past was the past. Now he had a future to live. And a milestone to celebrate but he couldn’t summon the spirit to be happy or throw fake smiles at everyone.

Even though this moment was special in his life one thing was lacking. Melanie should have been here but he was selfish enough not to involve her.

It wasn’t later that he excused himself. He took a cab to his house. Mr. Mason told him to get a car of his own but he wasn’t listening. Getting a car meant he had to learn to drive and he didn’t want to waste time with that. He could hire a driver but he wasn’t interested in that as well.

Once he reached his house he packed a few clothes and other necessities. He was going to abandon writing the third book for a week or two, it’s not like he was running out of time.

He didn’t sleep that night. There were a lot of what if’s running through his mind. What if she didn’t need him anymore? What if he was too late? Maybe she grew tired of waiting for him. Maybe she thought that he was a successful man now and she didn’t hold a place in his heart anymore. What if Keith took her back after everything? But she told him to come back to her and he was going to fulfill his promise. He was going to see her again tomorrow. Benjamin smiled at the thought and then he closed his eyes.