The Art Of Listening

Chapter 1

"Artemis, pay attention. I swear, you always have your head in the clouds." Father booms out as he slaps my head with his heavy wooden cane. I do not react, the act would cause me another lashing. "Sorry, Father." He sighs and continues my daily lesson. "That is all for today, your results should be in for your final grades and if they are good enough, you shall begin college in the fall. Don't bother me for the rest of the day." With that, he leaves me alone. 

We live in a small two bedroom home about two miles from Harvard where my Father teaches Greek history, hence my name, Artemis. My mother died in childbirth and I think that is why my Father hates me so much. I look exactly like her. I am not very tall, just over five feet. My hair is golden brown and I have large green eyes, I have seen her picture once and I could be her twin. I don't know her name, Father never speaks of her. It only makes him angry if I ask, then I get hit. 

I am not allowed out of the house. I have never been to school and have been homeschooled my whole life. Now, he is sending me to college in the fall and I am a bit nervous. He has set me up to begin working in the school library so that I can learn social skills. He says that like it's my fault that I don't have any, he has kept me locked away my whole life. 

As fall arrives, I begin my job and my classes, I am studying psychology. Father is ok with that, he says I can make a career of it. School has been in session for about three months now, my class load is heavy, but it keeps me busy. I have no friends, but I have my books. They don't care if I am strange, if I dress differently, or if I know who is hot right now. They welcome me with open arms. 

One day, the most handsome man I have ever seen walks into the library. "Excuse me, I am looking for a book for a project that I am working for." I look up from my furious typing and see him, Blonde hair, brown eyes, perfect smile. I return his smile and that is how my life turns on it's ear. He returns to the library every day, just to talk to me. Then we begin to date, Father is less than pleased, until he meets Brad. Brad is a law student and very promising from a very important family. 

In the beginning, he was sweet and attentive, but things began to change, slowly. It wasn't long before I realized that I was with a monster, worse than my father. Brad was nice, but at the drop of a hat, became angry and mean. He made sure that he never hit me in the face, though. His sexual appetite was cruel and disgusting. I was damaged and I knew it. I tried talking to my father, telling him I needed help, but he shoved me aside. He told me that I was an adult now and needed to behave like one. 

It was three years later, that my father died, leaving me with a small life insurance policy and no guilt. I had been living with Brad for two years at that point, so I needed to clean out my father's house and sell it. Brad told me to take care of it quickly and not to bother him with the details, so when he left for work, I went to the house. 

The smell of cigars and brandy wrapped around me as soon as I walked through the door. I called a moving company and ordered a shit ton of boxes and they were delivered and hour later. I started in the living room and packed all the way through to the upstairs before lunch. My room was pretty much empty, since I didn't have a lot of things and I didn't live there anymore. I had never been in my father's room before so I was surprised to find it neat and clean. There was a queen sized bed in the middle of the room and bookshelves lined the walls. He had a huge walk in closet filled with his suits, shoes, and very little else. 

I box up all his clothes from the closet and the books that I don't want to keep. He had a few first editions and classics that  I loved and couldn't bear to part with. It was close to seven at night by the time I was calling the local charity to pick up all the things that I didn't want. I sighed, there wasn't one picture or memento of my mother or me. I guess he really didn't care. I carried all the boxes downstairs and stacked them in the living room. There was only three boxes of books and things that  I wanted, but I knew Brad wouldn't let me keep them at his place, so I left them in my Father's room for now. 

My phone went off and as I took it out of my pocket, it fell and hit the floor. I sighed and knelt down to pick it up when I saw it was a text from Brad asking how much longer I was going to be. I was done, the charity would pick up everything tomorrow morning, but I wasn't ready to go back, so I told at least another hour maybe two. He was quick to reply with a 'that's fine' and I did a little happy dance. He must still be at the office. 

As I went to stand up, I noticed a box under the bed and grabbed it. It was old and covered in dust. I lifted the lid and it was full of pictures of my mother, my father, and me. Tears filled my eyes, he did care, even a little bit. There was only a handful of pictures, but it didn't matter. There was also two letters, both addressed to me. One was old and yellowed, the other was new. I opened the old one first, it was from my mother. 

Her letter told me of how much she and Father loved me and couldn't wait to meet me. She wrote it while she was pregnant with me.  The second was from my Father. He had written it the day before he died.

Artemis,

I know that I wasn't the best father to you, but I was so lost without your mother. She was my whole world and when she died, it was as if my soul had been ripped from my body. I tried to take care of you, but I know that I failed to give you the things you needed the most, love. As you grew up, you looked more like her. You reminded me of what I had lost. I am so sorry, Artemis. I have been very sick for a very long time and I hid that from you. I am dying and I need to tell you a few things before I go.

First, I am a coward. I can't even tell you what I need you to know to your face. You are the best of me. Smart, kind, strong, caring and gentle. You have a heart of pure gold and a pure soul. I have never in my life met another person like you. You are even more special than your mother and that is saying something.

Second, you are unhappy with that boy, run! I can see the pain in your eyes. I don't know what he is doing to you, but he is killing your soul. I cannot go to my grave knowing that you are dying slowly and do nothing about it. You are the last of us, your mother and I. I know you are meant for so much more. 

Third, I want you to live, not close yourself off. I have left something for you in the cover of my favorite book, find it and live your life for you. 

I know I never said it to you, but I love you, my daughter.

                                                   Your Father.

I wiped the tears from my eyes and placed the letter back in the small box. I carried it over to the three other boxes and set on top. I opened the one with the books and pulled out 'The Oddessy', it was a first edition that my mother had given him as a wedding present. I opened the front cover and there was an envelope full of cash. I gasped, there had to be a few thousand dollars here. I made up my mind, I was going to leave Brad. I could live here. It had only been about thirty minutes but I ran out of the house and drove to our apartment with determination. I was done. Biggest mistake ever!