Three light taps hit Oscar's bedroom door as I seek permission to enter.
"Come in!" I hear his squeaky voice yell.
Come on, calm approach, you've got this.
"Hey Oscar, I just wanted to talk to you about this whole plan." I say to him,
"Yeah? What about it?" He says, but once again speaking before I can even think of a reply. "Oh! Do you need a map? Or knowledge? Or a format of all the plan-"
His ambition is honourable, yet also utterly stupid.
"Oscar-" I cut him off, still remaining calm and composed. "That's enough, I don't want to talk to you about that, okay?"
"Oh, right. What's up?" He says, disappointment filling his voice.
"Are you sure this whole thing is a good idea? It's a super secure facility, and they have hundreds or even thousands of people in there who would want to hurt us. I get your ambiguity, but don't you think it's a little dangerous, especially considering the fact that we're bringing James?" I ask.
"It's fine, we got in twice before, their security is low, it's best to strike now before they decide to build up a bigger army." He attempts to counter argue.
"Oscar, look. I really don't think this is a good thing to be doing, it's so dangerous." I say, once again maintaining my calm tone, yet demonstrating how desperate I am.
"We'll be fine, trust me." Oscar says.
"Alright." I say, defeated, as I leave the room.
My mind almost takes control as I grab the keys to leave the house.
"Where are you going?" Mum quickly interrogates from the sofa.
"Out, I need more stuff for the lab." I say, fairly bluntly.
"Alright, be safe, love." Mum says.
"Mhm." I reply, quite coldly.
Panicked soldiers run around in my head, it's as if any sense of control or normality has gone. I can't believe this is happening, why is mum allowing this?
If they go I'm going to have to go too, I can't let them go alone. It's just so stupid.
It's late, the golden sun is extinguished by a solemn layer of gloomy, grey clouds, the streets silent and dull and the birds have all hidden.
Each step sends a ripple through my mind, this can't be happening.
My seemingly endless walking ceases at the entrance to a graveyard, it's as if I've been forcefully led here, instinctively guided like a robot, but I know where I am.
Ancient willow trees protect large chunks of stone sticking out of the ground, each one representing an individual and their life and their impact on the world.
I come across the unforgettable stone that lays right by the cold roots of the tree.
"In loving memory of MICHAEL BENJAMIN JACOBS"
"22 JANUARY 1980 - 28 JULY 2009"
I almost helplessly slump beside his grave, memories still flash through from when he was alive, oh all the fun we would have.
Surprisingly, I've heard that most people talk to the grave. I don't, I just sit in silence and close my eyes, I just picture him next to him, it's as if he can simply hear my thoughts and that's enough for me.
Oh, Dad... what am I even supposed to do. Everyone seems to be on board with this, why am I the only one who seems to see the issues with it?
I wonder what you would do if you were here, I wonder what you'd say. You'd probably swoop in and pretend to be a superhero like you used to with me, maybe you'd even pretend to be a Viking and scare all the monsters away.
Maybe you'd laugh, maybe you'd cry.
The willow tree solemnly rocks in the wind, almost cradling itself.
I miss you, I could really use you right now.
I would do anything to bring you back.
YOU ARE READING
Purple Roses
ActionStep inside a world where two sides are separated, one being a lot happier than the other. Look through the eyes of multiple different people from different backgrounds, a family forged not by blood but by love. It isn't all pretty though, sometime...
