Ten Years Later - Part 17
They all sat silently at the dining table, eating burnt paella and over-salted tortellini.
"This is really... Tasty, sweetheart." Paul said waving his fork in the air before taking another bite of overcooked rice.
"Don't even try, dad." His daughter said placing her knife down on the table. "This is a disaster." She said burying her face in her hands. "Mom, stop trying to kill Michael with your eyes, dad stop trying to make small talks and act like everything isn't wrong and Michael, for goodness' sake stop making noise with your fork."
Fiona rolled her eyes at her daughter and took a sip of her drink.
"Ma'm I can promise you that I have changed." Michael said looking at the women.
Tania scoffed. "You promise."
"I have changed this time." He said firmly, this time looking at the daughter.
"Really? And how can I be sure about that? How can I be sure that this isn't some of your games just like that-" she stopped herself and drank some wine, her cheeks heating up as everyone was looking at her.
"So Michael, you were in a band?" Paul asked, tuning his attention to the middle aged man.
"Yes. 5 Seconds of Summer."
"And what happened? Why did you break up the band?"
"Because he became a drunkard! And addic-"
"Fiona!"
"I had other problems at the time and so did my band mates."
Paul hummed. "And now? What do you do?"
"I-" he looked at Tania for help but she shrugged her shoulder giving him a obvious fake smile. "I'm in Australia for a small visit. I'll be leaving for New York in a few days."
"What?" Tania asked, shocked.
"New York you say. Interesting."
"I'm going to get the cake. Michael, won't you come help me?" Tania asked, standing up.
"Sure, love." He relied. "Excuse me." He said to her parents.
As soon as they were out of her parent's sight she stopped him in his tracks and pushed him against the wall.
"What do you mean you're going to NYC?"
"Yeah, I'm going to stay with Ashton for a while. He said it will help me. A new start, a new environment."
"So you're not coming back to Sydney?"
Michael shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. What I'm sure of is that I'm selling the apartment."
"What? Why?"
"I told you; a new start, a new environment." He saw her face fall and smiled, cupping her cheek. "Don't worry honey. I will be coming back, soon." He said and pecked her lips softly. "Australia is my home. And you're a part of it. I am going to stay in NYC to find something to do. But I'll come back. I'll come back for you."
"Michael." She said shaking her head, taking a step away from him. "Why do I feel like I'm just your experimental thing. Like a 'rebound'."
He frowned. "What do you mean?"
"I mean... You just decided you wanted a change. Am I just a part of this transition? An asset to help you change?"
"What? Of course not! Tania..." He trailed off, hugging her. "I care about you. And you care about me."
"But that is not enough to start a relationship."
"But that is something enough to start something bigger."
She looked up at him, placing her hands on his chest and smiled.
"You going to New York sounds like a great idea. You should go, clean up your mind, start a new beginning and find new reasons to live for. And I will wait for you if you still think that I am part of this new chapter of your life."
He smiled down at her and ran his fingers through her hair.
"I'll be back for you, love. I will come back."
She kissed him, and even though she knew it won't mean anything to him in a few weeks, she put her all into that kiss, giving him all her love. That love she had for the broken soul trapped in his body and which was slowly breaking free.
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Ten Years Later | 5SOS
Short Story"Open your eyes, look within, are you satisfied with the life you're living?" He surely wasn't. But it took him a few shots and bottles to finally decide to step on that plane and come back to the life he had left behind ten years ago. 5 Seconds...
