But He Stopped Pt 2

I Remember Every Little Thing

"Guy." My voice was cold, bitter.

"John." He nodded without looking at me.

It was raining. A radstorm was coming. I could feel it in the air. All the residents could; Ghouls were unusually energetic and happy, humans felt more sluggish and slightly nauseous. Maybe it was why Guy and I couldn't manage to be more civil to one another on this day. I took a seat on the platform, the green wall behind me seemed mocking somehow. Darcy, all prim and pretty, sat beside Guy. I felt... trapped almost. Like a molerat in a cage or a dog in a pen.

I raised my face to the sky, letting the rain fall on my skin, soaking my long blond hair, wash out the curls. It was rejuvenating somehow. Mom had always loved the water. I felt that I could pay her homage in this way. My heart clenched at the thought.

I lowered my face, watching Guy as he took the stand, speaking out into the large crowd. Mom hadn't had many visitors in her last days, but everyone had known her when Dad was in the politician's game, everyone knew her now that Guy was filling in his father's footsteps; exceeding his predecessor. There were even people from the upper stands sitting in the wooden benches looking up at my brother and me.

It struck me, as he spoke of our Mother, how opposite he and I were. His brown hair was kept cropped short, shaped to a pretty hairstyle that accented his strong features. His big brown eyes were strong, compelling. He was shorter than me, but thicker from a more pampered and mostly chem-free life. His pretty little blonde fiancée sat in a somber dress a few seats away from me on the stand. Darcy dabbed at her eyes delicately, holding a nearly perfect umbrella above her head to protect her perfect coiffeur.

I reminisced about our childhood, about our later years. As time had worn on he seemed less and less like the caring, protective boy I had grown up with and more like our father; ruthless, cold. He knew what people wanted and he knew how to manipulate that want to meet his goals. He used his sway and power to extract favors, to secure exclusive deals on chems or murders.

He was just like Vic, but worse. Vic was upfront and honest about his awfulness, Guy hid it behind a pretty smile and a handshake.

"She was a woman of heart, and caring." He paused, his hand clenched in a fist. "More than that though, she was brave. I've never known a stronger woman. She had so much going on in her life. Aside from the politics my father brought home she had two teenage sons – which I feel some of you can understand the nightmare that can be."

The crowd tittered. I watched him with surprise. He looked back at me, true emotion on his face. He waved me up to him. Hesitantly I stepped forward, his outstretched arm welcomed me to the platform, clenching around my shoulders when I approached.

"This man, my brother, John. Some of you know him as the black sheep of our family." He gave me a squeeze, "He dedicated the last few years of his life to caring for our Momma when she could not care for herself. He took her for walks, dipped her feet in the water that she loved so much, talked to her to keep her from being lonely and administered her medications."

I felt tears pricking my eyes, I'll never talk to her again.

"Without his love and care I doubt she would have lasted so long, and we would have been the poorer for it." He rubbed my shoulder and for a brief second I wanted to lean into him. "This man that has been cast in our community in an unfavorable light is, truly, one of the most selfless. Little brother," He turned to me as the coldness settled in, "Despite what everyone says, despite the moments you have had – I thank you for being there when I could not have been, for being a pillar for our diseased and ill mother. For showing all of Diamond City," He turned back to the crowd, brandishing an arm out over them, "what selflessness really means. I can never thank you enough for giving our mother the attention she needed."