City of Despair

Chapter 004 (Advice)

        He stared at his home without moving at all. Even though he was asleep, he felt like he was actually there. As he looked to his left and his right everything was how it was 18 years ago. From the barking of the dogs two houses down to the scratch on the side of his neighbor's house. His expression cold and emotionless but, on the inside he desired to stop, to cry, to do what he wanted to do for so long...what he did so much when he was young. He slowly walked down the path toward his porch. He stopped again and stared at his front door as tears formed in his eyes. As tears began to roll down his cheeks he continued to walk toward his front door.

        He reached for the knob and opened the door. As he walked inside he noticed the familiar emptiness of the house and how contagious it really was. Filled with fear, sadness, regret, anger, hate. He covered his face with his hands as he began to sob struggling to hold in the pain he was feeling. He looked up and heard footsteps slowly walk down the stairs. Matthew looked up and wiped his face with his hand. A shadow began to form as the figure was revealed to be the size of a child. The figure stepped into the light holding a glass and wearing red pajamas. He looked up at Matthew and Matthew's face became grim.

        "M-My name's Matt. A-Are you friends with my father?", Young Matt stared at Matthew with a concerned look.

        Matthew stared at his younger self. "Sorta." Matthew said with a shaky voice.

        "I think my father is asleep right now.", Young Matt said staring down at the glass he was holding with a miserable expression.

        Matthew noticed the scar on the right side of his face next to the more faded one. He touched his cheek as he remembered how he received the second scar. As he thought about the story he struggled more to hold down his emotion, he just stared at Young Matt. He looked back at him looking more concerned than before.

        "A-Are you O-Okay Mister?", Young Matt stood almost shaking in a nervous manner as he stared at me.

        "Yes I am.", Matthew said regaining his composure. "Can I tell you something though, Matthew?"

        Young Matt nodded and looked at Matthew waiting to hear what he had to say.

        "No matter what never let anyone hurt you Matt", He pointed at his head and then his heart "Not here or here", Matthew then kneeled down and touched Young Matt's chest "No matter what you always have to look out for yourself okay? Do you understand?" Matthew asked staring at Young Matt.

        "I think so", Young Matt looked into Matthew's eyes and began to cry.

         Matthew hugged his younger self and reminded him to remember what he said. He whispered "I believe in you" as he awoken back on his bed. The sun was just rising and poking through Matthew's curtains. His eyes opened his eyes staring at the ceiling processing his dream...