The Road I'll Take

Unearthing the Past

Josh POV

The next thing I knew, I was standing in Alex's living room. Erin had left just moments before. The thoughts running, no sprinting, throughout my head were saying that I was dreaming. I pinched myself and inhaled as the pain spread across my arm.

'No. Not a dream.' I whispered.

'No it isn't.'

I turned around to see my brother leaning against the door frame.

'I'm sorry about your room not being ready. The paint's not dry. I only found out about you moving down here yesterday afternoon. I had to drag Martyn out of YogTowers by his ear. I'm going to assume your a fan, judging by the fact that you look so nervous and your wearing one of Martyn's hoodies.'

'Um, yeah.'

'I'm sorry about granny and grandad. I can't really remember them very well.'

'They never mentioned any family.'

'I guessed so. I'm sure you have a lot of questions

'Erm, yeah.'

Alex's POV

'Stay there!' I said as I left the room. I made my way up the stairs, and into the spare room. I opened the cupboard and took out the cardboard box.
'I'm glad I made this.' I muttered.

It was a family tree. I guessed granny and grandad wouldn't have talked about us. Probably so as not to upset Josh. I had made this to help me answer any questions he may have about our relatives. I had built it when I heard there was a possibility of Josh coming to Bristol. I slowly made my way back downstairs, being careful not to trip.

'What's that?' he asked.

'This,' I said, 'is your past.'

I took out the roll of paper and spread it out over the coffee table.

'Here you are.' I pointed. 'Joshua Smith. Born on the 25th of January, 2002.'

Josh POV

I stared at my name and then looked up the line.

'Michelle McIntosh. Born on the 4th of July 1964. Died on the 25th of January 2002. She died the day I was born.'

'Yes. She died of eclampsia.' he muttered, the sadness evident in his voice.

I traced the marriage line.

'James Smith. Born on the 11th of June 1963. Died on the 26th of January 2002.'

'He died in a car accident. He was drinking out of grief. He ended up driving down to Cornwall and off a cliff. They only found the car.'

'Oh my God!'

'You lived in Bath for a while but then you were taken up to Newcastle and I stayed with uncle Alex and auntie Julianna.'

'I have an uncle and aunt as well?'

'Why? Didn't granny and grandad mention them?'

I shook my head.

'I would say they didn't want to upset you. Also, I fell out with Grandad.'

I watched Alex stare at the clock. I saw the sadness in his eyes as he thought about our mum and dad, our grandmother and grandfather.

'Right,' he said suddenly, 'It's 10 o'clock and I'm sure your starving. Let's go into town and get some breakfast.'

He got up off the sofa and put a jacket on over his burgundy t-shirt.

'Come on. Let's go.'

I followed him out to his car and hopped into the front.

'Alex. Thank you.'

'For what?' he asked.

'For everything.'

A grin spread across his face. He turned on the radio and we drove into town. My brother sang along to some of the songs. Hearing him on a stream was one thing, but in person. Well, he was something else.