Beyond Fate and the Stars [Self-Published]

Seek the Ox, Find Happiness

Second Draft

by benchbites

Guillaume tried not to fidget by clutching on the straps of his backpack. His knuckles paled with the pressure he was putting but his mind was too occupied to notice. He was unintentionally holding his breath and it wasn't until his best friend spoke did he realize he was suffocating.

"Are you sure this is the right address?" Lia asked, careful with her choice of words.

"I'm sure." He replied. Lia tried to read his face, hoping to find early warning signs of a highly probable disaster. But Guillaume's seemed devoid of any emotion. That was worse.

The boy took a step forward, his gaze transfixed on the huge wooden door before them. It sat on top of a short flight of steps and its intricate carvings matched the stately façade of the two-storey house where his grandfather now supposedly lived. This suburban home was almost impressive, he allowed himself to think, if only this was your usual, run-of-the-mill family visit.

"Should we knock or should we ring the bell?" Lia asked from behind him. Again he let go of the breath he was holding in.

He contemplated his choices for a moment before telling Lia, "Let's sneak around the back." He then turned on his heel and made a beeline through the side yard.

"Guillaume! Are you out of your mind?" She didn't want to follow, but he was already too far to stop so she just stomped her feet and quickly trailed behind. "Wait up!" She said in a hushed, irritated tone. "I swear if we get jailed for this, I will kill you."

"Shh, someone's in there!" Guillaume placed a finger against his lips, motioning Lia to be quiet and ducked behind a wooden fence. He couldn't see anyone, but he heard voices.

Lia paused and covered her mouth. She slowly crouched under a thick bush and hid herself a few steps away from Guillaume. Her heart pounded on her ears as she heard people chatting, laughing, from inside the fence. The sounds were mixed with indistinct melodies of vintage music. She kept her eyes on Guillaume, preparing herself for another one of his impulsive acts.

Guillaume carefully positioned himself to peek between the gaps. He came all the way here to see his grandfather, and although he wasn't brave enough to go through the front door and actually face him today, he wasn't going home without making sure this was the correct address.

It had been six months since his Grandpa 'escaped' from the nursing home. It was just like his grandfather to be stubborn and strong willed but he was already seventy-six! And although his memory and cognitive skills were intact, his body wasn't in top shape to be disappearing into the night like he did... And as if that wasn't already a shocker, the nursing home's surveillance video showed his grandfather had in fact eloped with a male nurse half his age, slipping away with fingers entwined like infatuated teenagers. He could've been kidnapped, but his grandfather made sure everyone knew it was voluntary when he blew a kiss straight to the camera right before they panned out of the shot.

Guillaume thought about looking for him right away, he worried so much for his grandfather; but his parents' overdramatic show of blaming each other at the police station somehow made his Grandpa's decision sound. Even he wanted to disappear and be rid of their embarrassing behaviour. But when it came down to it, he trusted his grandfather, however bizarre his decision might have been.

This morning, he received an SMS from an unknown number. It gave him this address and an invitation for an afternoon with his Grandpa. He would've dismissed it as a cruel prank but another text came, saying "You can bring your friends, or even a teacher, if you're doubtful. But please don't tell your parents. At least not yet. He's not quite ready to see them."