Hardy Boys - More Than Just The Fun Uncle

Guilt's Child

He flew. How far or how high, he did not know. He didn't even know to where he was trying to fly. He just floated. Aimlessly. Happily. Calmly. Without purpose. He flew however or wherever seemed right to him. The shouts and protests of the familiar, but unrecognized voices around him could do nothing to stop him. He just did. He did whatever suited him at that moment in time. He did whatever made him happiest. He did what he loved most.

Then something changed. There was falter in his floating. One of those voices finally said something that mattered.

"Daddy"

Suddenly that calmness disappeared. There was a new sense of purpose that before had been non-existent. Everything seemed completely reversed... except for the happiness. The happiness had only grown.

"Daddy"

That voice changed him in a way he never thought possible. He no longer wanted to do what he loved. He wanted to do everything that little voice wanted to do. It didn't make much sense, though. None of those things made him happy.

But they made that voice happy.

"Daddy"

This time it was quieter; more distant. It was as though the voice had drifted further away. It almost sounded scared. All other voices vanished. This little one was all that remained. This little one was all that mattered.

"Daddy"

He searched for the maker of the voice, but he was alone. No matter how desperately he called to it, it wouldn't come to meet him.

But it needed him. And he needed it. He needed to be there for it. He needed to save it from whatever was making it scared.

"Daddy"

It was even further away. It was even more frightened.

Nothing mattered anymore except for this voice. All of his own selfish wants and desires were a distant memory. He had purpose now, and it involved something other than himself. He couldn't explain it, but this little voice had taken away any desire to go on with his calm and careless floating. He needed to be with it. He needed to love it. He needed to protect it.

"Daddy"

So frightened now.

"Daddy"

So far away. No matter how far he stretched, he still couldn't reach it.

"Daddy"

He could feel himself losing control. Losing that flight.

"Daddy"

"Daddy"

He fell.

"Daddy"

"Daddy"

"Daddy!"

The last cry cut off and left him in utter silence. Oddly enough, the silence screamed louder than any voice ever could.