No Future in the Past

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Liam and Arthur walked into their dimly-lit room. Liam sat down and pulled his satchel off as Arthur put the money away. A picture of Liam's parents fell out of his satchel as he went to look through his belongings. It hit the floor facing up. Arthur looked down at it, hummed and picked it up to inspect it.

"This your parents?" Arthur asked. "Yeah." Liam replied, not wanting to think about it. "Your daddy looked a lot like mine. I know what happened to him, but what about your mama?" Arthur asked. Liam looked away for a moment, remembering himself putting a bullet through her head. He bit his tongue and swallowed before speaking. "When we was holed up in Beaver Hollow, I ran into my mama on the streets of Annesburg. And at first I wanted to go the other way, but she told me that she missed and loved me, and for the first time she had saw clearly since my daddy's death. I believed her. We met up that next day and she invited me back to a place she was staying at just North of town. I don't know, I guess I just wanted to believe in her." Liam said. "And then what?" Arthur asked, listening intently.

"Well, she set me up with a few bounty hunters waiting to bring me in. I killed them all and found her in the house. She told me she had no choice or she would've went hungry. Said my daddy was right, that I was nothing but a low-down killer." Liam said, swallowing a sob. Arthur sat down next to him, still holding the picture. "Then, I just got so angry and... I shot her... and burned down the house." Liam said, his eyes welling up as the memories flooded his mind. "My lord. I had no idea that was happening with you. I'da never known." Arthur said in disbelief.

Liam looked to Arthur, his vision blurry from the tears. "Arthur. I shot my own parents. What the hell is wrong with me? She and my daddy were right in everything they said. I'm nothing but a killer. Sometimes I wish something would just kill me already!" Liam said, sobbing. He looked down to his lap as he tried to hold back cries.

"Hey, hey, look at me, son." Arthur said pulling Liam back up. Liam tried to clear his vision. "I know exactly what you're feeling. I killed many people I shouldn't have, and I think about it every day. But even after all of that, I learned that you gotta to see the good in the world. Try to do the good thing. Help others in need. And what I've seen from you since the moment I met you is the complete opposite of what your parents said you was. You're always happy to help. You've put me and the others in this gang first before yourself time and time again. I've never in my life seen a boy as selfless and trustworthy as you, Liam. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you. You're a good boy. Just know that." Arthur told him.

Liam looked at him again for a moment. He couldn't remember the last time somebody had told him anything like that. He wanted to speak but no words came out. He grabbed Arthur and hugged him tight. "Thank you." Liam got out as he hugged Arthur, his head buried in his shoulders. Arthur hugged him back, patting his back. "No, thank you, son." Arthur replied. Liam eventually composed himself.

Arthur stood up. "Goodnight, kid. Look up, cause we're headed out West." He said putting out the flame of the lamp, undressing into his union suit as Liam did the same. "Goodnight, Arthur." Liam said climbing into his cot, falling asleep as the rain started to fall outside.

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