Houston, I Think We Got A Problem!

PROBLEM XLVIII : Fate Screws All

I did not Proof Read this.

PROBLEM XLVIII :  Fate Screws All

It’s easy to admit that the gloomy look on Houston’s face was scaring me. What could be so bad to have his cherry attitude go so downward so easily?

He rub his hands over his face and then ran his fingers through his messy hair, “Well, where do I begin,” He mumbles. “Uh, my grandfather, he passed away when I was young. I don’t remember for sure, but I think I was five..? Maybe. But I do remember the day clearly. He took me out for a walk. There was this Café just down the street from our house, LailaBells. It was his favorite place to be. He used to say it was because of the pastries, but truly, it was because of the owner Laila. He had a crush which he just refused to accept,” Houston chuckled.

“And so we went in, the bell dinged above our heads, and Laila snapped her eyes to us. Her face lit up. Lit up like she’d just seen gold. It was the glimmer in their eyes, it could give dead couple hope or something. It was just another day, Laila and him talked like old friends, And they laughed. I munched on something. It was pastries that day, I remember. We spent more than an hour without even knowing. And then the next moment he’s getting up, and abruptly collapsing in the floor. My five year old self didn’t understand what was happening. I was trying to wake him up, Laila was hysterical, calling an ambulance on the phone. She couldn’t make a coherent sentence.”

Houston frowns, his brows knitting together. His hold on my hand tightens until he could feel my knuckles digging into his skin. And then suddenly, he releases my hand completely. “I never knew but he had a heart condition. He was prepared to go, Clover.” His eyes rose, to look at me, with tears rolling down his cheeks. “I rode in the ambulance, I-I wasn’t worried, I thought he was sleeping.”

“You were five, Houston. You cannot think like that.”

“No, I should’ve cared!” Houston stalks over to the other side of the room, his steps angered, “People don’t just drop unconscious on the floor, damn it!” He screams, Slamming his fist into the wall in front of him. Another second passed before I was grabbing his fist in my hand before it became a bloody mess.

“Listen to yourself Houston! Five year olds are not supposed to know about heart conditions and when they strike, just like children don’t have to repay favors to their parents!”

I exhaled heavily, as he just looked at me with these big, tearful eyes. I let my hand slide up his chest and to the back of his neck. I held it there while my other hand cupped his cheek, “Even the adopted ones.”

“Clover,” He began, “If you’re going to say that it different, then don’t. If you don’t believe that you couldn’t have known, then you’ll never believe it period. And it’ll eat you alive. You think you didn’t care enough that he died, right? How can you say that you didn’t care enough when you are literally crying in front of me and talking about this, knowing I’d never let you live it down.” He gave me a wobbly smile, “I mean, You cared enough to share this with me when you didn’t have to. Believe me, you cared enough.”