Simon Treadwell had been a professor of history for the past twelve years of his life. He certainly looked the part, being a rather average height of five feet and nine inches. One would be hard pressed to describe him as anything but slim if they’d only seen him in teaching attire, but he did regularly go out of his way to maintain a presentable physique. He possessed a hidden strength somewhat betrayed by broad shoulders and square jaw, but enough to fool most. The one quality of his appearance that no one could deny was the intensity of his eyes. Cobalt blue and fierce; looking into them gave one the impression that there was truly an ocean of knowledge behind them. A truth that had him at the top of whatever lists students often kept of their favorite professors. At only 38 years old, Professor Ornam was wise beyond his years. Compounded by his genuine love for his students, it would be considered odd that he was not at the graduation ceremony happening a few buildings down from his department’s building.

Simon sat behind his desk fiddling over a bottle of 1972 glenglassaugh. Managing to finally get a grip on the tears forming on the edge of his vision he poured himself a glass. Looking around his small office space he grabbed the small glass and lifted it to eye level… “Cheers”, he said to nobody in particular.

Slowly he downed the aged whiskey, enjoying every ounce of it. It had been a gift from his wife, his precious Mary. It had been intended as a something to enjoy together to celebrate the college graduation of their twins. That would have been today, had that night never come to pass. Something you never expect to happen to you or yours...Mary hadn’t even seen the drunk bastard coming. In one moment he’d lost everyone he considered precious in his life. So here he was, six years later and still wallowing in self pity.

It wasn’t something he spoke of often, but he still had a single picture on his desk acting as a reminder. Their last christmas together, Jack and Lily had just turned sixteen and they had splurged for a family vacation to hawaii. Running his hand over the frame he smiled, “I miss you all so much.” Tilting the recently refilled glass to his lips he downed the entire thing before hearing a knock at his door.

Shit, maybe they’ll go away he thought to himself. Waiting a few seconds before pouring himself another glass, he couldn’t hear anyone outside the door. Gave up easier than I’d expected, good thing honestly. I’m really not in the mood to entertain anyone right now.

“Simon, I’m opening the door,” came the voice of a woman only few years older than him. 

Straightening himself out as best as possible, he mumbled a slight annoyance before responding for her to come in. Sarah Mulson was, despite being a good friend of his, the head of their department. As such, she deserved his respect, regardless of his desire to give it or not. Not that he held anything in particular against her, he really just wanted to be left alone tonight.

Standing up to shake her hand he had to mentally stabilize himself a bit. He wasn’t much of a drinker, and he had already begun to feel its effects. Managing to avoid even the slightest stumble, he reached out his hand to shake. “My apologies, I was a bit self consumed and didn’t realized you’d knocked. Congratulations on another excellent batch of newly qualified historians,” he said with a hearty laugh.

Sarah chuckled to herself while looking over his shoulder. Seeing the that the picture of his family was sitting next to open bottle of whiskey just confirmed her suspicions. Realizing what today was she had looked for him at the post grad celebration. Having noticed his absence she immediately excused herself having a pretty solid guess regarding the mental state of her friend. Still looking at the half empty bottle she managed to quietly start her half practiced sympathy, “Simon, I…”

Before she could even get halfway into whatever she had hoped to say Simon cut her off “Please Sarah...just don’t. I know what you want to say, but please stop. It means a lot to me that you would even come here. I know that what I’m doing won’t fix anything, but just give me tonight.”

Sarah looked him straight in the eyes. Despite being two years older than him she had always admired him. Admired may not be the right word, rather it would be appropriate to say that had he ever had any desire to remarry she would have happily volunteered. Sadly that had never come to fruition, but they had still become good friends. Her favorite quality of his were his eyes, they calmed her. Looking at his eyes made her feel like she was at sea looking up at a cloudless sky. Today however, she saw a maelstrom. She could feel his pain in the short glance she shared with him. Sighing she replied “Fine, but before I leave you be, you have a second visitor and I won’t allow you to turn this one away.”

Simon couldn’t even imagine who it was, but before he could ask Sarah turned towards the door. “Miss Rosenthal, you can come in now.” She turned and whispered to Simon, “And you, put that whiskey away before you give this poor girl anything more to worry about.”

After hustling to hide the evidence of his melancholy, he turned to see a short young woman with brunette hair in a long braid and large round glasses enter. Elizabeth Rosenthal, or Elle as her classmates called her. She had been a good student, not the best, but always hard working. The most noteworthy thing about her in fact was that she was completely unnoteworthy. She was without a doubt the quietest student he had ever had, unless he called on her in class she never spoke a word. You could imagine his surprise then when it was this girl that had wandered into his office with Sarah.

“What can I do for you Elizabeth?” He said with as much cheer in his voice as he could muster.

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“Ummm...Pro..Professor, I told you that you could call me Elle,” the shy girl mumbled while staring at her feet.

Simon slightly rolled his eyes while catching the wry look that his colleague was giving him out of the corner of his eye. He shot her back a look that said, yes I am quite aware of the fact that the girl has a crush on me, don’t encourage her.

Looking back in Elizabeth’s direction, he coughed before replying “Sorry, Elle...what are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be out celebrating with your friends.”

She managed to raise her head a bit and look at him, “My friends aren’t really the type to celebrate. Especially not around that many people.” This caused both the adults in the room to utter a stifled laugh.

Continuing, Elle said “Plus I noticed that you weren’t there, and...and I know how much you care about your students. So i thought maybe something was wrong…” Noticing that her professor hadn’t stopped looking in her direction the entire time, she quickly acquired a set of very blushed cheeks.

Simon was truly moved by this young girl’s notice of his absence. He hadn’t even considered that he would be missed. I suppose I hold more value than I thought he smiled to himself. Again looking at his friend in the room, her eyes were full of pity for the young girl. They were also clearly telling him to tell her the truth. This is really turning into a pretty shitty day. “Sarah do you mind stepping outside for a second?”

“Not at all,” she replied. As she turned to walk past Elizabeth, Simon clearly caught the coy smile that she gave the girl.

After Sarah had shut the door he has offered a seat to his young student. “How much do you know about my family, Elle?” he asked.

“All I know is that they died a few years ago...nobody really talks about it though.” Internally her heart was racing...I can’t believe I’m actually alone with him!

Committing to sharing the truth with her, Simon recounted the story of what happened to his family on that night six years ago.

At some point during his recanting Elle had subconsciously stopped staring at the ground. Her eyes studied his face, and as he began to near the end of his story all she could see was pain. The torment in his heart was visible on his face. Yet he didn’t cry, it was amazing considering she was a blubbering mess. The normally easily embarrassed girl hadn’t even noticed that she was sobbing uncontrollably.

“I...I don’t know what to say,” was all she managed to get out.

Simon hadn’t expected her to anyways and replied as such. “Truthfully, the fact that not one, but two people came to check on me has already lifted my spirits quite a bit.”

It was the truth, not the whole truth, but the truth nonetheless. His heart was still suffering, he doubted it would ever wholly recover, but this was the best he had felt in years. Whether the company or the liquor he couldn’t really be too sure.

As he stood to let sarah back in he looked at the girl he’d just shared his story with. As he passed by her he couldn’t help but be reminded a little bit of his daughter. Memories of his twins painfully flashed in his mind; the good memories were always the painful ones. He pressed on reaching towards the door as he felt a slight tug on the back of his sweater. As he turned to ask Elle what she was doing he suddenly found himself wrapped in a tight hug.

WHAT AM I DOING?! That was the sole thought running through her mind as she wrapped her arms around him. It wasn’t that she had finally gained the courage to make a move or anything like that. Rather she had seen the face that he made as he walked past her to the door. It was the face that a proud father would make towards his children, and it had caused to realize how much pain she would be in if her family had suddenly disappeared from her life. She just...felt, no...she knew. She knew that hugging him was the right thing to do.

Recovering from the initial shock Simon had suffered at the hands of this diminutive girl, his mind was reeling simply trying to understand the why behind it. However something in him snapped. A part of him that had been repressed for six years finally fought its way out. For the first time since the death of his family, he cried. It started as a laugh, he was laughing at his own ineptitude. He had been so wrapped up in his own sorrow that he hadn’t realized that in six year he had neither hugged a human being, nor truly expressed his grief. Then the tears came...slowly at first, but before long a torrent. His frustration at being so helpless, at not being there with them, at losing himself in his own sorrow...it left him is waves. As if the tsunami that Sarah had seen in his eyes had finally forced itself through an invisible barrier and manifested in reality.

As Elle looked up at her now sobbing professor he fell to his knees with a thud and put his head on her shoulder. The door behind him opened and Professor Mulson appeared with a shocked look on her face. Quickly appraised the situation and walked inside, putting her hand on Simon’s head. They remained there with him for what felt like hours, when in reality was closer to five minutes before he finally regained himself.

Weight...Simon hadn’t realized how much extra he’d carried over the years. He felt refreshed. Truly a new man, or rather someone much similar to his old self. Realizing that he was still kneeling against his student and that there was now a hand on his head, he quickly stood up and wiped his eyes. Crouching in front his amazing young woman he put a hand on her head and said exactly what he had been thinking earlier, “Elle, thank you. I mean that from the bottom of my heart. Briefly, earlier I had thought to myself how similar you seemed to my daughter, and i realize now why I thought that. You are both the kind of people who care more for others than for themselves. Again, thank you so much.”

Standing up he turned to face Sarah, suddenly embraced her in a very tight hug as well. He owed her this much. Finally detaching himself he noticed that her face was quite red. However the laugh he let out only got him a swift punch in the arm.

Feeling so refreshed, he decided that he would join the party after all. After reassuring the two women that he would be along shortly he ushered them out the door. Turning to finish what this night had started he was startled by a bright light behind him.

Regaining his sight he finally noticed that there was a man sitting in his chair. A rather robust figure wearing dull grey robes that somehow still held an appearance of elegance to them. He must have been close to seven feet tall and had the most immaculate beard he’d ever seen. Before he could say anything though, the man threw up his arms and stood up, “Simon, my boy!”