And today I learned, that it is, in fact, a dark world.

Chapter 12~ A story

~~~~~~~~~~~CHAPTER 12~~~~~~~~~~~

      Daren briskly strode to answer the door. I think he was trying to avoid my prodding, but I’m not 100% sure. When he answered, I looked out from behind the wall to see who was there. All I saw was a grim looking man, around 40 years of age. He was about 6 ft tall. The gentlemen had on long, straight, and ironed black slacks. The dress shirt he was wearing was colored navy blue. His balding head still had bits and pieces of graying hair. Personally I think he’d look way better if he just shaved it off, but it’s his choice, hair, and life, not mine. Then I heard him talk. The man’s speech was rough and kind of had a growl to it. The voice was tough and the words were slurred. It was sort of scary to listen to. Suddenly, I noticed his face, particularly his mouth. There was a big, deep red and ragged scar going across his face. I wonder if that had anything to do with his speech. Probably, I assumed.

      After I’d finished studying the guy at the door, I turned and fixed my gaze on Daren. He stood rigid at the doorway. His jaw and fists were clenched tightly. I realized that he had to know the man. The gentleman must’ve done something to make Daren mad; otherwise he wouldn’t act that way. Daren’s just one of those people that would give you the opportunity to be his friend, until you did something to ruin it. He wouldn’t just automatically get like this. It makes me curious as to who this man is. What he did that was so horrid to Daren.  His reaction is kind of scaring me.

      “Daren! Who’s at the door?” I asked.

      “Uhhh. Umm. It’s no one.” He replied

      Since Daren wasn’t going to tell me, I decided to walk up to him. That really put him on edge. I could tell by the look in his eyes that he wanted me to the other side of the room, but I simply refused. Plus, it was kind of funny to see him get so edgy and defensive. Then the man spoke out:

      “Hi, I’m Demetrius Karzom, it’s a pleasure.”

      Oh my gosh. Karzom?! Karzom as in Daren Karzom? No, no, no! This man was obviously too old to be his brother. He had to be his father. Daren told me they were dead. He lied, the little scumbag lied. I can’t believe it. Maybe I should just leave and die already. My brain can’t take any more of these confusing facts! Before I knew what I was doing, I was already back where my bags were. As I gathered all of my necessities, Daren sauntered over. He was so careless, he even walked careless!

      “I can’t take it anymore. I need to leave. I need to die.” I said.

      “Kelsa, please don’t. C’mon. You can’t do this!”

      “You’re right, I can’t. And that’s why I’m leaving.”

      Then Demetrius interjected, “At least let me explain to you as to why I’m here.”

      Daren and I kind of muttered something akin to fine, and off he went, telling his story.

“In 1831, 180 years ago, I was sitting on the side of the road. I’d just walked out on my wife and unborn child. For reasons I still don’t know even to this day, maybe because I felt pressured, but definitely not because I didn’t love them. Daniella was the best wife anyone could ever ask her, and it terribly disappoints me that I’m sitting here today without her.  Anyways, back to the story. So there I was, confused, upset, and angry. At the time, I blamed it on a person who hadn’t even taken their first breath yet. How wrong it was I already know, but what I can’t seem to grasp, still to this day, is why. Why I didn’t think my decisions through. Why did I make rash judgments and be too quick to form wrong opinions?”

      “A few months later, our baby was born. October 15, 1831 was his birthday. His name was Daren Elias-Sage Karzom. It was the most beautiful name I’d ever heard. After Daniella had Daren, I came to visit them. I’d wanted to make amends, to spend the rest of my life with her, and our baby. I bought her the most beautiful roses money could buy back then, but now I think that she would have taken me back without the roses. She was tired from the labor, but thankfully alive, because women often didn’t survive labor back then. On our way home, I made sure I bundled the baby up, so he wouldn’t get a cold. We walked to the house in which I would get to call home again. I couldn’t wait to see what Daniella had done to Daren’s room, because she’d always been good at that kind of stuff. As my new family and I ambled in, Daniella headed straight to the nursery.  It was decorated beautifully. The walls were a pastel yellow and the theme was teddy bears. The crib was hand-made, probably from her father and brother. At that moment, I realized that I should’ve never left. They didn’t need me, but I really, genuinely needed them. They were my light, my saviors.”