The Color of Life is Red

The Story

"Caleb! Come get your breakfast!"

Caleb looked up from the diary and toward the attic stairs. Boxes surrounded him, their contents spilling onto the floor. He tied his grey-brown hair into a messy bun and looked out the window. Rays of sunlight were visible in the dusty attic, casting a window mark over the wood floor.

"You're gonna be late!"

"I'm coming!" He called back, adjusting his red jacket back onto his shoulders. He picked up the journal again and turned the page. His face dropped in frustration, "No!"

The writing stopped abruptly, right at the climax. "Come on," Caleb whined.

"Caleb!"

"I'm coming!" He shoved the book into his backpack and climbed down the attic stairs, taking one last look at the dim room.

The house was filled with the smell of bacon and pancakes. Caleb filled his lungs with it, then slipped down the stairs with a smile. "Dad! Did you make-" He was greeted with a plate of chocolate chip pancakes as soon as he entered the kitchen. "Thanks, Dad."

"My pleasure, Kai." He turned back to the stove to flip more of the pancakes.

A small girl tugged at his father's grey sweater, jumping up and down impatiently. "Mama! Mama!"

He laughed at her, "I'm getting it, Liliana!"

Caleb ruffled his sister's hair and joined his Dad at the breakfast table. He lowered the newspaper he was holding to greet him, "Your hair is getting long."

The compliment brought a warm feeling to his chest. He admired his father's bun of shiny raven hair. "I want it to be like yours."

He chuckled, "It's lookin' good." His grey purple eyes sparkled at him.

Caleb happily shoveled his food into his mouth and chugged his milk.

"Caleb, let's go." He turned to find his father helping Liliana put her shoes on. "We have to drop her off at Aunt Katie's house."

He snatched his backpack and high-fived his Dad, then headed out the door.

Aunt Pidge gave him a fist-bump when they dropped his sister off. "Stay cool, my dude."

When they pulled up to George R. High, Caleb rested his hand on the door handle. He hesitated, unsure if he should bring it up. His father gave him a questioning look, "What's wrong, Kai?"

"Um," he sat back and reached into his backpack. "I wasn't trying to snoop, but I found this." He pulled out the worn leather journal.

His father stared at the journal in disbelief. It was like he struggled to react. He tore his eyes away and locked them with Caleb's. "Did you read it?"

"Yeah," he continued cautiously, "But there isn't an ending and yours and Dad's and Aunt Pidge's names are in it and I just-" he stopped when he realized how strange his father looked.

He took in a shaky breath, then drove out of the school parking lot. Caleb's chest ached, thinking he was about to get in trouble. He kept his head down until the car stopped. When his father jumped out of the car, he followed, finding they stopped at a coffee shop. Looking both ways, he skipped across the parking lot to stay close to his dad.

The smell of cinnamon and coffee permeated the air. Various adults- some in business suits, some in casual clothes- hurriedly retrieved their drinks and exited the shop. His father tapped his hand on the counter, "Shiro! Coran!"

A taller man with a ginger mustache appeared from behind the counter. His face lit up as he saw Caleb's father, "Lance! What's the occasion?"

Another man appeared behind him, draping a prosthetic arm over Coran's shoulder. Caleb recognized the names from the journal, and he slowly put the pieces together. His dad crossed his arms with a long sigh, "It's time. Could you get us a few cups of coffee?"

"Oh," Coran's face dropped, "I see."

Shiro eyed Caleb, "We can do that."

"Thank you." He turned to his son, "Follow me."

Caleb was led to the back of the coffee shop, finding a seat at a small table. He sat across from his father. After a few moments of silence, he opened his timid mouth. "Um, Dad? Am I in trouble?"

"What?" He looked up from his phone, "No, of course not." A smile lit up his face as his fingers tapped away at the screen, "I'm just bragging to your father that you asked me."

Coran and Shiro set down two large white mugs in front of them. Coran gave them a warm smile, "If you need anything, we're here."

They left the two boys alone. Caleb took a small sip from his mug, "So, I just-" he lifted his head and puffed his chest confidently, "I want to know the ending."

His father's piercing blue eyes smirked at him from behind his coffee cup. "Kai, do you remember your life before we adopted you?"

He tried to recollect his thoughts, then shook his head. "Just bits and pieces."

His eyes dropped as he remembered the story, "When you were five, I actually helped you."

"Oh!" Caleb pulled out the book and skimmed through the pages. He pointed to a passage, "Is that me?"

His dad glanced at it, then gave him a warm nod. "Yes, 'the boy' is you."

"Wait," his face dropped in realization, "But that would mean-"

"The story is true." He let Caleb absorb the reveal. "You see, the story was written by your father and I. It's the story of how we met."

Caleb laughed in disbelief, "That's- But that's impossible! That would mean the you're-" he trailed off, pointing at his father.

"Caleb 'Kai' McKogane, it's nice to meet you." He held out his hand, "My name is Lance McClain, and I'm the Hellhound."

His face dropped in amazement, unable to process the thought.

"You want to hear the end?" He took a sip of his coffee, "I think you're ready for the truth."