Alittle Too Gay

A Father's Love

2 WEEKS BEFORE JASON'S LEAVE...

"What's she doing here?" Jason spat, staring at the woman who sat comfortably next to his father. His father sighed heavily, feeling the tension rise. "Jason. I know she's been gone for a while-", "Six years." Jason cut off. "Well-erm....", Jason's father scratched the scruff on his chin nervously, knowing exactly where the conversation was heading.
"Listen-", Lydia chimed in. "Daniel is wasting time dancing around the topic so I'll say it myself." Jason watched her. Hatred very apparent in his stormy eyes. "Pack your bags dear. As of today you are going to be living with me." Jason felt his world stop. He stared at her in disbelief. "Dad... tell me this ain't true.."
Daniel's silence was all he needed to realize it was. Daniel rose his head, clearly holding back tears as he spoke. "Jason. You know that this is for the best, as much as you don't want to admit it.. I-I can't take care of you anymore." Jason was silent, unable to process the entirety of the situation. "I've been fired from almost every single job I've had. And as of now I'm unemployed and depending on the money of my friends to get us by..... look Jason, no one wants a past criminal to be working for them. It taints the image of their business.....", the pain in his voice stung. Jason had never seen his father look so helpless and defeated, making the man who sat before him almost unrecognizable.
Lydia silently watched the scene unfold before quickly excusing herself and exiting the room. Jason could have sworn he saw tears on her makeup covered face, but deep down he knew that that was simply impossible for a person like her.
"Son... I love you with every fiber of my being and it hurts having to willingly let you go but...... your future is more important than my selfishness." Jason loved his father much more than he loved himself. He couldn't imagine the pain of having to willingly give up the child you raised and nourished, he wouldn't have been able to do such a thing. Daniel stood up, towering over Jason as he outstretched his long, muscular arms. "Now come give me a hug. You've been so darn quiet but I know you need this as much as I do." He said with a smile. Jason felt the tears he didn't know he was holding back pour down his face as he ran into his father's outstretched arms.
He cried. Loud, unpleasant sobs as he held unto his father afraid to let him go. Lydia watched sadly. She didn't want to destroy this.... but it was for Jason's sake. He needed a good future. She could not allow him to end up like either herself or his father. He had taken the form of their past love, of happiness and past regrets. He was their everything.

2 WEEKS AFTER JASON'S LEAVE...

"Daniel!", a booming voice called out. Daniel turned lazily towards the voice, careful to not fall off his stool. "G'night Braxton...", he slurred out to the burly man now seated next to him. "What brings you here? Especially on an evening. Won't Martha be worried?"
Braxton shrugged. "She knows." He laughed. "She even give me a curfew, six o'clock." Daniel smiled at his friend for god knows how many years, before returning to his now warm glass of tequila. Braxton looked at him worriedly, ordering a large cup of beer. "I didn't know you got back into drinking." He said quietly. Daniel chuckled. "I could say the same for you." Braxton laughed loudly. "Touche. I do admit I've been a bit stressed as of recent." "Same here." Daniel said as he took a large gulp of the burning liquid. He sighed. "My boy's......", he whispered. Braxton patted his back sadly. "I know Dan. But.... it's what's best for him." Daniel nodded. "Its hard being a parent... having to watch your kid suffer because of you. Having to give them up as a price for all of the bad choices you made...."
Braxton silently watched his friend, unable to find the words to comfort him. He couldn't relate to what Daniel was saying. He was blessed enough to be able to watch his own son grow all while having the support of his lovely wife. He had known Daniel since their nursery years. A loud, ructious, confident boy with a bigger than life personality. He always seemed to be dirty. Messy sand blonde hair and equally dirty pale skin. That boy grew up to be an even louder, more quarrelsome teenager. A teenager that sadly got mixed up with the wrong group. That teenager grew up to be a care free and reckless young man who immediately upon being blessed with a wife and child, lost the woman and life of his dreams. A young man who struggled to not just keep himself standing, but also his newborn son. That young man..... now a tired, sad and lonely man in his late thirties, sat before him, desperately trying to drown his miseries.
Braxton sighed, quickly standing up once finishing his beer. "I think you should pay Martha a visit. She's always saying you don't visit her enough." He chuckled. Daniel watched him quietly, before setting his empty glass down and standing up. "Yeah. I know how she gets." They both laughed quietly, exiting the bar.