As they sipped their lemonade, silence settled. Joseph was looking at the garden, looking for words that would not come easily. Lisa, always attentive, broke the silence.
> Lisa: "Sometimes I wonder what scares you, Joseph. I have the impression that something holds you back, that you keep it all for yourself."
Joseph took a long inspiration, and after a hesitation, he turned to her.
> Joseph: "Lisa, I know I can trust you, but ... you know, everything you have here, your family, this support, this love ... with me, it's different. My father always has been hard, severe, and ... and my mother ... She tries to fix everything, but it's as if she was drowning too. "
Lisa looked at him, touched, but also a little worried. She had never realized how much Joseph wore this burden.
> Lisa: "It must be difficult. But it does not explain why Will left, right? Did he ... Did he have a conflict with your father?"
Joseph shrugged.
> Joseph: "It looked like they no longer understood themselves. My father always wanted him to follow his rules, that he was ... perfect. And Will, he has always been independent, a little rebellious, but He remained respectful.
Joseph's face hardens, and his eyes were lost in a vacuum.
> Joseph: "I will never forget the anger in his eyes that day. He was rabid, and my father ... My father almost chased him away. It was as if he were no longer his son."
A long silence ensued. Lisa then understood that Joseph's pain was not only that of a brother who had lost a model, but also that of a young man who saw his own home.
> Lisa: "And since then, it's like the house was no longer really at home, right?"
> Joseph: "Exactly. It is as if Will had taken with him the last ounce of warmth that remained here. My mother changed. She smiles less, she avoids the angry subjects. And my father ... my father becomes harder and harder, even with me. "
Lisa's mother, who listened to theconversation from the kitchen, decided to join them. She approached Joseph and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.
> Lisa's mother: "Joseph, I don't know all the details, but know that sometimes people leave for reasons you don't immediately understand. Maybe your brother needed to find his own way . But I'm sure that one way or another, he's watching over you."
Joseph nodded, looking down, touched by her words. Lisa placed a comforting hand on his arm.
> Lisa: “If you ever need to talk or just not be alone, you know that I am here, that my parents are there for you too.”
Joseph smiled, although a little sadly, and for the first time, he felt ready to tell Lisa more.
> Joseph: "One day I'll tell you everything, Lisa. But for now, I have to figure out what it all means for myself."
They spent the afternoon together, talking about childhood memories and dreams for the future, trying to escape dark thoughts, even though, deep down, Joseph knew he would soon have to face this part. shadow that Will had left.
YOU ARE READING
THE LEGEND OF THE ARACHNID
AdventureThe Legend of the Arachnique delves into the epic tale of Grim Williams, a rebellious heir who becomes a legendary outlaw, forming a gang as fearsome as it is united. With his faithful companions, he challenges the Wild West, between daring heists...