OC Origins: Curtis

Chapter 4: Alone

Well, it's time for another chapter of the origin of your favorite charming monster! Remember how I said that there was something that really would start off the story? Well, you'll find out what that something is in this chapter! And let me tell you, it's pretty shocking...

Do you remember the one moment where everything changed for you in an instant? Brother, we've all had them. You're probably wondering, what happened to this guy that made him what he is how? Well, there's one major event, and it's one I can't seem to forget, no matter how hard I try. *sighs* It all started on the day of my 7th birthday......

Sunlight shone through the crack in the curtains, hitting his face and waking Curtis up. Blinking in the light, he sat up blurrily before realizing something.

It was his birthday. He was now seven years old.

Most of his birthdays had been glossed over by his uncle and aunt who didn't believe in spoiling children, but his mother always made sure to turn the occasion into something special, whether it was with a toy she had made herself or a sweet she had saved up money for to buy for the special day.

The events of the previous day already fading from his head, he leapt out of bed and got dressed, excited for whatever the day would bring.

But when he stepped out of his room, he became quiet, tiptoeing down the hall, careful not to make a noise.

His aunt and uncle were still asleep and Curtis still got a twinge of fear whenever he though of what had happened the previous day.

With clarity he still remembered the rage on his uncle's face, the look of fear and utter disappointment on his aunt's face, and the most hurtful, the sad look his mother gave him. He hadn't meant to hurt his mother's feelings...

 If his aunt and uncle woke up due to him making noise, they might give him the beating that his uncle almost gave him yesterday.....

Somehow, he managed to sneak past his uncle and aunt's room and arrive outside the kitchen.

The sound of sobbing came from inside, which puzzled Curtis. Why was his momma so sad? Did his uncle say mean things to her? Was that why she was crying?

Curtis had seen his mother cry because of something that his uncle said to her(but what exactly, he never knew) but he knew that if he gave her a hug she'd be alright in the end.

He peered through the open door.

The next bit has always been hard for me to talk about, even all these years later.....

But what do you expect? It happened to me when I was seven after all.....

There at the kitchen table, sat his mother. Her hands were covering her face and the muffled sound of crying came from behind her hands. Her long dark hair was in a tangled mass and she was still in her nightgown.

After a moment, she stopped crying and stood up, putting something into the pocket of her nightgown. It appeared to be a piece of paper.....

She was almost to the kitchen door, when she noticed Curtis.

"What are you doing here?" Her tone came out frightened and her eyes darted around wildly, almost as if she was nervous about something.

"Momma, why were you sad? Did Uncle Peter make you cry again?"

His mother brushed off his words. "No, it wasn't that..."

Curtis smiled with relief. Then if his mother wasn't sad they could all celebrate his birthday together! "Oh, then can I wake up Auntie Meg and Uncle Peter? I want to celebrate my birthday with them!"