Nora Vanderbilt's life takes a mysterious turn when a near-death experience grants her extraordinary abilities, catching the attention of the enigmatic Dr. Hunter Aloysius Percy. Invited to join an exclusive research study on NDE survivors, Nora is...
That evening, Hap found himself standing at the door to Bishop's room. The soft hum of electronics and the rhythmic clink of mechanical parts filled the air. Bishop sat at his desk, headphones on, fully absorbed in his work as he tinkered with the robots. Hap knocked gently before entering, watching as his son focused on the pieces in front of him.
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Bishop didn't look up right away, the music from his headphones spilling out in faint bursts. He was deep in concentration, fingers moving skillfully as he adjusted gears and wires. Hap stepped into the room, leaning against the doorframe. He couldn't help but smile a little at the sight of Bishop so engrossed in his project, but there was also a deep sense of longing in his chest—wanting to bridge the gap between them.
"What are you listening to?" Hap asked, trying to start a conversation without overstepping. He knew things were still tense between them, but he hoped a simple question might get them talking.
Bishop took off his headphones with a slight sigh, his eyes glancing up at Hap with a mix of indifference and curiosity. "A song Mom likes," he said, his tone casual, almost dismissive.
Hap raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? What's the song?" he asked, his voice a little softer now, sensing an opening.
Bishop shrugged, pressing play on his phone and letting the song fill the room. The familiar sounds of Burning Pile by Mother Mother started to play. Hap listened carefully, his gaze shifting to the music before resting on Bishop. The lyrics were strange and oddly powerful, filled with a rawness that seemed to capture a chaotic, detached kind of feeling.
The words swirled in Hap's mind. All my style, all my grace, all I tried to save my face... He was taken aback by the deep, almost disillusioned vibe of the song. It felt like something out of a darker corner of the world—a mix of anger, surrender, and resignation.
Bishop tapped his foot lightly to the rhythm, his focus shifting back to his work, but Hap couldn't tear his gaze away from his son. It was clear that the song spoke to him in some way, and it was strange, almost unsettling, how connected it felt to what was going on between them.
He cleared his throat. "Is this something Mom listens to often?" Hap asked, trying to keep the conversation going, though the weight of the lyrics seemed to hang in the air, heavy and unspoken.
Bishop nodded, a small frown forming on his face as he turned the music down a little. "Yeah. She likes it. Says it's kind of... real, you know?" he replied, his words measured, but there was something else in his tone—a hint of something more complex beneath the surface.
The music continued to play in the background as the lyrics resonated in Hap's mind. All my troubles on a burning pile, all lit up and I start to smile... It felt like the song mirrored a certain kind of numbness, a way of trying to ignore the pain and just let it burn away.
