Meant To Be

Chapter 17

17.

Sunday Night was here sooner than later, for some reason the hours of the day had gone too fast, and I was glad...this day needed to end, it had been too stressful.After making sure my mother was ok in her room with her nurse, I make my way to my room before retrieving to my office as I always do to look over some paperwork and call Jughead, I decide I want to walk the perimeters of the house...just to make sure there are absolutely no more horrible surprises.

As I tie the dark grey Nike's so I can go outside,  I can hear small and quick steps that make cracking sounds on the wooden floor. Standing in front of me was Michael, his small smile on his lips, his Batman pijamas making him look a bit taller.

" you ok?"

" yes"

I didn't exactly know how to make conversation with a four year old, yet there he was staring at me as if I were the most impressive thing he has ever seen, little does he knows it was the other way around.

"Ummm...where is Veronica"

He didn't give me a verbal answer, he just lifted his small shoulders and gave me a questioning look. This was harder than I ever thought.

" allright, go to Carmen she's probably in the kitchen, Im gonna go out and walk for a bit"

" can I come?"

"no"

"Please?"

I hesitated for a moment and looked around the room trying to find an excuse to evade his company, not because it was not wanted but because I didn't know how to socialize with him without Veronica in the room. His eyes were expectant, and I was really running out of options,so a bit against my will, I took a deep breath and rolled my eyes.

" fine, but stay close...and grab your jacket...its a bit cold".

His pace was steady behind me as we went down the stairs, I was not used to having a kid follow my every move, but that was  about to change.

The cool breeze hit our faces as we opened the door, he shivered a bit, but he didn't dare complain. At the distance by the gate, we could see a few of the guys joking around and smoking, I really didn't care what they did as long as they protect house. He followed me towards the backyard, trying to keep up as we start rounding the house.

" alright kid, all we are doing is looking around making sure everything looks normal"

Before we turned the corner towards the backyard, he stopped abruptly, the dark side of the property at night was really not inviting at all...specially for someone his age.

" hey....hey is ok"

"Nnno"

This precise moment brings back so many memories. I close my eyes for a second and remember all those nights I used to run to my parent's bedroom and hide under the covers while being protected by their sleeping bodies. My father used to take me back to my room, and he used to lecture me about how the dark was just the absence of light. That there was no need for me to be scared "Archie, men don't cry...men cannot afford to be scared...so go in there, close your eyes...and control your demons"

Perhaps some might find his lessons a bit cruel, after all...I was just six years old, little did I know he was preparing me for this life, foolishness and weakness can brake you, it can bring you down...and I cannot afford that.

" give me your hand"

" i don't want to"

" hey,...sometimes we do not have any options but to be brave"