Time for Destiny - Michelle Rae.pdf

(1861 KB) Pobierz
Time for Destiny |
Michelle Rae
2
Chapter One
F
OR
AS
long as Daniel could remember, he had always
supported his family. At eighteen, he worked a five-days-a-
week factory job to offer financial support. When he was
younger, he’d helped raise his younger siblings while his
father worked away from home for months at a time. His
mother suffered chronic fatigue syndrome, and as much as
she battled her condition, Daniel knew her weak disposition
left her feeling helpless. Regardless of her struggle and
inability to always be there for them, his memories of his
mother were good ones. She loved all her children and
supported them as best she could.
Still living at home in a tiny apartment in a complex
filled with families like his, Daniel had long ago grown to
resent his life. His father, now unemployed and with no
interest in finding work, angered Daniel. On top of that, his
sister Ester had fallen pregnant. At seventeen, she relied on
their parents for support, which in turn put more pressure
on Daniel. Pressure was pushing him into a corner he
couldn’t get out of.
Of all his siblings, his brother Peter showed the most
promise. At sixteen, he was bright and top of his class.
Daniel always encouraged Peter to think about university,
something his father disagreed with. Carla, at thirteen, also
excelled, and Daniel watched from the sidelines, encouraging
her to do her best. The baby in their family, John, at nine,
was spirited and often got into trouble. Daniel often came to
John’s assistance when their father picked on him.
With his father constantly at home, Daniel wanted
nothing more than to escape. His father’s belittling and
nitpicking wore Daniel down. Daniel had no way of dealing
with his father’s abuse. If he confronted his father, it made
problems for everyone, so Daniel kept his mouth shut. His
mother quietly offered support out of earshot of his father,
but it was never enough for Daniel. His strong resentment
was slowly eating away at his desire for life. But he couldn’t
abandon his family any more than he could stand up to his
father. Life for Daniel felt out of his control, and he had no
hope of it changing anytime soon.
Time for Destiny |
Michelle Rae
3
O
N
T
HURSDAY
,
July 7, 2005, Peter made plans to visit a
university he was interested in applying to. Afraid to let him
travel on his own, their mother had insisted Daniel take the
day off from work and accompany him. Worried about the
number of accidents on the motorway, she asked them to
take the train, and they reluctantly agreed.
“Please be careful, watch the traffic, and call me when
you get there.”
“Mom, we’ll be fine. What can two boys like us get up
to?”
Daniel’s mother gave him the look that informed him
she knew exactly what he could get up to.
“Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll make sure Daniel doesn’t get into
any trouble,” Peter told her.
She smiled while Daniel punched Peter in the arm.
They stood in the foyer outside their apartment and
ignored the chaotic sounds from within. His mother stood in
her dressing gown. She had risen from bed to see them off.
She looked tired and too old for her forty-eight years.
“Be careful and call me,” she told them.
“We will, as soon as we get there.”
They hugged their mother, and Daniel told her to go
back inside. She watched as they made their way to the lift
but returned inside before the lift arrived. Daniel and Peter
messed around as they made their way outside and began
the trek toward the train station. While just another day in
what Daniel thought was his shitty life, today was important
for Peter.
Arriving at the train station, Daniel told Peter, “Put your
wallet and phone inside your backpack. Don’t want it
pinched while on the train.”
“You’re as bad as Mom,” Peter laughed.
Daniel shook his head. “Shut up.”
When the train arrived, they got on and found a seat.
The ride into the city was boring, and they bantered about
how screwed up their lives were.
“Well, at least you’re getting out,” Daniel told Peter.
“Yeah, thanks to you.”
“Don’t worry. When you’re making millions, I’ll be
moving in with you.”
“Like hell! But don’t worry, Danny, I’ll have your back
no matter what.”
Time for Destiny |
Michelle Rae
4
Daniel always thought it was his younger siblings he
was sacrificing his life for. Sitting beside Peter and seeing a
boy with dreams bigger than his, Daniel knew his sacrifice
was worth it.
“Just work hard. Make Mom proud.”
“And Dad,” Peter added.
“Screw Dad. If he had his way, he’d have you working in
some dead-end job, making you pay off all the ‘hard work’ he
put into raising you. Loser.”
“Dad tries, Daniel. I know you and he don’t get on at all,
but he does love us.”
“Yeah, only if we live up to his expectations. But I guess
they’re not that high anyway, so it’s not too hard to do that.”
“Daniel. Don’t talk like that about Dad. I know you both
have issues, but he’s our father. Once he’s working again,
things will get better.”
Daniel didn’t bother to argue. His resentment toward his
father was more personal than anything else. Daniel did not
often make it into the city, so being able to spend the time
with his brother made him happy.
When they finally arrived at the university at ten that
morning, they found a bench and sat down. Daniel retrieved
the snacks he had packed for them and his phone from his
backpack. He handed Peter his snack, then opened his
ziplock bag and pulled out his beetroot sandwich.
“That is so gross,” Peter said, looking at the soggy pink-
stained bread.
Daniel looked over at Peter’s beef-filled sandwich. “At
least mine doesn’t have half a cow in it.”
Time for Destiny |
Michelle Rae
5

Plik z chomika:

Inne pliki z tego folderu:

Inne foldery tego chomika:

Zgłoś jeśli naruszono regulamin