Page 225 of The Perfect Spiral
“Aww, you bring out the worst in me, Cain. What can I say?... Like I said earlier, I feel bad for you. You weren’t always like this. Something happened to you.
You smiled less, drank more, cheated on Mom, and smoked a lot more all when I turned six.” I see my father’s face falter into a blank look.
He just stares at me like he’s remembering something. Like he’s time traveling and knows exactly what I’m talking about. His beady eyes stare right at me, devoid of emotion.
“What happened to the dad I had all those years before I turned six? Where did he go?” I ask, genuinely interested in an answer. But I know I won’t get one.
I turn around and look at my mom, who is staring right at my father.
Taking one last look at him, his hollow eyes, I walk back to myfamily. I turn to face the nurse who was treating him.
“If I were you, I’d check for schizophrenia and split personality disorder if you haven’t already. He shows signs of them.” Facing him once more, I add, “Bye, Cain.”
Chapter 79
He will never be my father to me. He won’t change, and neither will my opinion of him.
“Dad! I’m your fucking father!” He roars at me. “I’ll see you soon, sweetheart. You know what they say, third time’s a charm!” He smirks evilly over the nurse.
I don’t say anything in return. He’s lost his mind. You can see it in him. I walk out of the room, back to my own bed, feeling a sense of relief that I finally understand why he targeted me all those years.
It’s because I have the same mind as him. I was as smart as him from a young age. It got me in trouble, it always did. But now I know. He hated me because I was like him.
A few hours later, I’m discharged from the hospital. My brothers protectively escort me to the car, where my sister Sam hasn’t stopped silently crying. I feel bad for her.
The whole ride home, I feel a pair of blue eyes on me. I join in with Sam’s silent cries, resting my head in my hands as tears trickle down my cheeks and neck. Today was too much. Too much for everyone.
It starts to rain, accompanied by a loud clap of thunder. It’s as if the car is crying along with me and Sam.
When we reach the house, the driveway is packed, so we park on the curb. Everyone runs for shelter into the house, except me. I stand by the car, holding onto the door handle, staring at my reflection in the window.
“Alex! Get inside before you catch a cold!” My mother’s voice echoes from the front door.
My hair, soaked from the rain, clings to my face. My skin is pale, and the strap of my dress has slipped off my shoulder.
I’m a mess. I feel like one, too.
“Alex!” My mother’s voice rings out again. I catch sight of his reflection in the window behind me. Those eyes. The only eyes I can’t resist. His face is relaxed, devoid of any tension.
He places his hand on my back, his voice barely above a whisper, “Let’s watch the sunset.”
We walk side by side around my house, the rain pouring down around us. He opens the gate for me, and my foot splashes into a puddle. I don’t mind. The water is warm.
Reaching the sandy shore, we sit down in the wet sand. Despite the rain, it’s still warm. We watch as the rain gradually eases up, the setting sun painting the sky in hues that contrast sharply with the day I’ve had.
“Hey Pop. You wouldn’t believe the day I’ve had. Or the birthday, for that matter. I thought I was going to be joining you up there today...” I chuckle to myself.
I can feel Knox’s gaze on me. I know he thinks I’ve lost my mind.
“I’ve been thinking about you a lot lately. Especially today... I miss you. I could really use a hug. One from you. I would give anything to hear your voice again.”
As the sun finally dips below the horizon, we’re plunged into darkness.
The day has ended. The night has begun. We sit in silence once more. I hear Knox shuffle around beside me, and moments later, I’m enveloped in a warm piece of clothing.
He sits behind me, wrapping his arms around me, rubbing my arms to generate some warmth. I have my own arms wrapped around my knees, pulled up to my chest.
I lean back against his firm, comforting chest. He rests his chin on my shoulder, planting a kiss on my temple. I’ve missed his touch. I’ve missed his kisses. I’ve missed him. So much.
