A tale of two brothers

December 25th - 2004 ( Part 1 )

                                     Intro

Jason Ridge were only 5 years old when his life changed, scarring him for life.

Jason was a little dark-brown haired boy, his brown eyes innocent, or they were innocent, before everything changed. He lived  in a small apartment just outside New York  with his mother and his little brother, Alec. Alec was only 2 years old, they didn't look a lot alike, Alec was younger and with blueish colored eyes, but judging by the color of their hair, and the happiness in their eyes, they were brothers.

Alec didn't know a lot about the world outside of our house, and he didn't understand either, he always saw the world as a place full of happiness, but Jason knew for sure, that that wold change.
He and Alec were best friends, they shared everything together, their bedroom, toys, food, and even clothes if they could ( though their size differences made it pretty difficult ).
Jason would do everything for Alec, he loved him, their mother couldn't afford to give them much, but she loved them, and that was all that mattered to Jason.
He barely ever saw his father, Henrick Ridge as he was called, he only came to visit once a month, Some times he had a colleague with him, they always called him Sir or Ridge. He never told me what he was working with, but from time to time he told me "Don't ever trust normal cops, if you're in trouble, go to Frank in the apartment below, and he'll help you."
As a 5 years old, Jason didn't understand much about what he was saying, but nodded and tried to remember what his father told him.
When father came he always gave Jason's mother money, and every time she would fall to her knees, thanking him and saying that she owed him her life.
During those moments Jason and his little brother Alec were not allowed to leave their room, not until their mother told them to, but that wouldn't stop Jason, he always slid his door open, listening to their conversations, waiting to greet his father.

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It was early in the morning, Christmas Day. It was cold and I crawled up from my bed, hearing the door bell ring, I sneaked up to the bedroom door in my Mickey Mouse Pyjamas, walking barefoot. Alec was sleeping and I could hear small snores in between his breaths. I slid the door open, just enough to see what was going on out in the hallway.

This morning  mother seemed extremely nervous, about what, I didn't know, but I was really curious about the two small black-leathered boxes father was holding.
His father turned a glance at the door, where I was standing, to my surprise, father didn't look angry at all, even though he caught me listening to their conversation.
Instead he sat on his knees and smiled, with his arms opened.
I felt a rush of happiness and excitement as I ran towards him and gave him a big hug
- Merry Christmas, he chuckled and looked at me.
His brown, kindly looking eyes staring into mine, he wore the same black bomber jacket that I had see him wear every time he came here. he dug his hand into his pocket and picked up one of the leathered boxes I'd seen just a moment before, and passed it onto my hand.
I looked at him for a split second before sitting down on the floor to open the little box.
Carefully I opened the lid of the black box, inside an enormous ring of silver shone bright as the sun from the little kitchen window hit the silver.
- A ring? I asked stupidly.
Father laughed and picked up the enormous silver ring.
- It's a wristband, he said to me in a lower voice .
- Give me your arm, he asked kindly.
I did as I was told and held my arm in front of him, he gently put the wristband over my hand and onto my wrist.
I looked at the too big wristband, my initials were graved in the silver, J.R.
I realized father had the same wristband, but with his own initials, H.R.
The sun from the living room window shone on the silver, the curtains throwing big shadows over the hallway where the 3 people were standing.
- It's a bit big, I said ironically
- You'll grow into it, this time he forced a smile, but I could see the sadness in his eyes.
- Is there something wrong father? I asked.
His smile disappeared as he lay his hand on my shoulder, I noticed a ring on his finger, which hadn't been there before.
- I need you to promise me something, okay? He said.
I nodded, curious and scared of what he was about to say next.
- Promise me that you will take of your mother and brother, from now on you're the man in this household, do you understand?
I nodded once again, I felt my eyes tearing up, but I forced myself to not let the tears come out.
Father smiled and gave me one last hug, then stood up and turned around, giving my mother a simple nod.
And just like that, he walked out of the apartment, his steps echoing on the stone floor. As he closed the old, rotten wooden door I realized that, that was the last time I would see my father, and tears ran down my cheek as my mother picked me up and hugged me, she was crying silently as well.