𝙎𝙣𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙗𝙞𝙩𝙚 {𝙏𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙉𝙞𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙨}

𝘾𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙗𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚

2006

Michael and Diana's home was filled with the warmth and chaos typical of a young family. Michael was outside, busy working in the yard, while Diana, with her rich Colombian accent, cooked dinner and kept an eye on their one-year-old daughter, Sofia. Their five-year-old son, Ezekiel, was at the kitchen table, deeply engrossed in his drawing.

Life was good for Michael. He was a successful lawyer with a beautiful wife and two children. It had been ten years since he last spoke to his father, or any of his old Cobra Kai friends. The past felt like a distant memory, one he was content to leave behind.

The tranquility of the afternoon was interrupted by the ringing of Michael's phone. He answered it, not recognizing the number.

"Hello?"

"Would I have the number of a Michael Kreese?"

"Speaking."

"Mr. Kreese, this is Rebecca from the Downtown LA Homeless Shelter. I'm calling about a John Kreese. He listed you as his emergency contact."

Michael's heart skipped a beat. "My father? What's going on?"

Rebecca's voice softened. "He's been having some issues. Aggression, psychological problems. He's gotten into fights with other tenants. We may have to ask him to leave if it continues."

Michael closed his eyes, rubbing his temples. "I... I haven't spoken to him in ten years. I didn't know he was there."

"I'm sorry to bring this up, but we need to address the situation. Can you come by tomorrow?"

Michael sighed deeply, looking at his family through the window. "Yes, I'll come in the morning."

He hung up and stood there for a moment, the weight of the news settling over him. Diana stepped out onto the porch, wiping her hands on a towel. "¿Todo bien?"

Michael looked at her, trying to mask his worry. "That was about my dad. He's in a homeless shelter. They're having some problems with him."

Diana's expression softened, though she and John had never gotten along. "¿Vas a ir a verlo?"

Michael nodded. "Tomorrow. I have to. I can't just leave him like that."

She walked over and placed a comforting hand on his arm. "Lo resolveremos, juntos."

🐍

Michael drove to the homeless shelter with a mix of dread and obligation. As he entered the shelter, he immediately saw a commotion. John was in a heated altercation with another tenant. A shelter employee rushed over to break it up.

"You wanna end up back in the street, John? Sleeping under a bridge? Because that's exactly what you'll be doing if you don't stop acting a fool. Now clean this shit up."

The employee escorted the other tenant away as John, grumbling, began cleaning up the mess.

Michael stepped forward. "Hey."

John turned and froze, shock evident on his face. "Michael?"

Later, Michael observed his father's small, sparse room. An American flag hung over the bed, and a newspaper clipping of Cobra Kai's past victories was tacked to the wall.

"So, why didn't you tell me sooner?" Michael asked, breaking the silence.

John's eyes hardened. "It's been ten years. We haven't spoken."

Michael sighed. "How's Diana?" John asked, though Michael knew he didn't really care.

"She's fine, Dad. She's worried about you, too."