Reality Lies by D.F. Downey (e manga reader .TXT) 📕

He looked defiantly at his father. “I will mom, I promise.”

“Good, good. Where’s Sean? Where’s grandma’s little man?”

Jay waited expectantly.

“He’s taking a nap dear.” Gary answered.

“Oh, that’s a shame.”

“You want me to get him.” Jay offered.

“Don’t wake him.” Johanna said weakly.

“He needs his sleep.” Gary said with finality. His face told Jay not to press it. Then Gary stepped between them. “Let’s give your mother a break. It takes a lot out of her.”

“I’m a little tired honey.”

He grabbed Jay firmly by the back of his upper arm and led him over to the kitchen area. He didn’t show a weapon but Jay imagined one in his pocket. Even if there hadn’t been one, there was one now.

“You’re not going to see Sean until your mother gets better. Don’t try again. I don’t want to hurt either of you.”

For the first time, it was out in the open. Who was this man? It couldn’t be his father. There’s no way his father would hurt his grandson. Still, he understood that this was a damaged soul. Who knew what he might do?

“Do you hear yourself? Threatening the life of your grandson!” Jay shouted.

Nervously Gary looked over at the bed. “Keep it down.” he whispered excitedly. “I don’t want your mother to hear this.”

“She should hear it! She’s the only one who could talk any sense into you.”

Gary began to sob softly, “What am I going to do? She’s all I got!”

“You have me and Sean and. . .”

“I don’t know you and after what I’ve done I doubt I ever will. I don’t know anybody or anything for that matter, your mother is my only link.”

“We can get through this. Give it a chance. Okay dad?” Jay thought he had gotten through. “Now where’s Sean, so we can start to put this behind us.”

“No, it’s too late. I’ve isolated Sean so when the time comes he can bring your mother back to me. If you won’t help or at least cooperate then there’s nothing left for me to do.” He pulled the gun from his pocket and pointed it at Jay.”

“Turn around.” Gary ordered.

“You can’t shoot me while I’m facing you?” Jay taunted.

“Just turn around.” Jay complied. “Now let’s head outside.”

Jay continued walking. He expected the end at any moment. He thought of Sean. He thought of his mother. But most of all he thought of Amy. K-R-A-C-K! An instant of pain and everything went black.

It was dark. For the moment Jay was totally disoriented. He could barely move. But gradually he realized where he was. His father had locked him in the trunk of the old car out back. By touch he located the tire iron and began to pry at the door. Eventually, he was able to bend it enough to let in some light and, more importantly, some air. He was sweating profusely by this point so he took a moment to decide his next move. He thought he might be able to kick his way into the rear seat and quickly realized this goal. He was out but he had no idea how much time had passed or if his father had moved his mother and Sean.

One thing he knew was that he was going to be more careful this time. He checked around the outside of the cabin, now, thankfully, normal-sized. It looked empty. For the life of him he couldn’t imagine where they went.

He went inside. They hadn’t left long ago. The kettle on the stove was still warm. Actually, everything was left behind, Sean’s toys, his mother’s medicine. Maybe they had…

The door opened. In came Sean followed closely by Gary carrying Johanna.

“Jay, give me a hand.” Gary called as he came into the room. “Pull the sheets back on the bed.”

“Daddy!” Sean called as he ran to Jay.

Jay bent down and picked him up. His first intention was to simply leave but he couldn’t just abandon his mother.

“You’re going to leave aren’t you Jay?” Gary asked.

“As soon as I say goodbye to mom.” Jay replied.

“I’m sorry.” Gary simply said. “I realized I was wrong.” He was resigned to reality. “There’s nothing more you or anyone else can do for her now.”

Jay walked to the bedside. Johanna opened her eyes. “Hi honey, I’m so glad you made it.”

“Mom, how are you feeling?”

“A little better.” She weakly replied.

She tried to sit up.

“No, don’t strain yourself. Save your energy.”

“Honey, I want to. Give me a hand.”

He helped her to an upright position and put a pillow behind her back.

“I spoke to your father and he understands now. Jay promise me, you’ll take care of him. He really needs you.”

“Okay mom.”

“You’ve been a good son Jay. The best any mother could ask for. I’m so proud of you.”

Jay hung his head. She stroked it. “My little boy, I love you so much.”

“I love you too.” Jay was a little boy.

They kept talking. Jay was encouraged by how animated she was. He couldn’t understand why his father was lingering in the shadows at the foot of the bed. He was crying.

Finally, Gary stepped out of the shadows. “Jay let her go.”

“What do you mean? She’s doing so much better. I can hardly believe it. I mean before when she was really sick you wanted me to keep her here and now you…”

Jay looked at his father. His eyes opened wide. “Oh.”

“She passed on the way back, son. She asked for you. She wanted to see you one last time.”

Jay quietly dropped to his knees. At first he sobbed silently, his tears were dry. Then Sean came over and stroked his cheek,

“Luv you daddy.”

“I love you too, bud.”

Amy had just arrived and threw open the door when she heard their voices. She stood in the doorway watching her two men. Her voice restrained by Jay’s pain.

She walked softly over to them. Jay looked up. They didn’t speak. They didn’t have to. Sean smiled at them and giggled. Jay swept them in his arms and the three repeated a ritual they had performed countless times, a group hug.

Jay released them slowly. “Reality is really hard sometimes,” Jay said.

“Reality lies in the eyes of the beholder.” Amy replied.

Jay opened his eyes as he drank them in. He clutched them closely, then softly murmured, “Reality lies.”

347

Publication Date: 05-20-2013

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Dedication:
To Pops ... finally free!