When Victor had been younger, freshly graduated from college, he came back home. It was only for a little while, before he found a job somewhere remote, somewhere far from Charleston.

He’d outgrown his old bed by that point, but he loved the thing regardless. His room was a haven for him, away from the people outside and even his own family. He spent most of his time back staying in there, or exploring the city at night. Anything to get him away from his friends, who he wouldn’t dare face again.

The isolation got to Victor sometimes, but it wasn’t for long. Charlie or Vivian would burst into the room to ask about a videogame or for his help driving somewhere. Victor was happy to oblige, because it took his mind off of things.

Eventually, he found a job opening somewhere in the middle of Oakland. It was on the other end of the country, and so his family vehemently fought against him going there. Even they’d relent in the end though, after seeing the condition their son was in.

“The distance might do him some good,” his dad told his mom. “And the boy can take care of himself. I was the man of the house before I’d turned thirteen.”

Then he’d launch into a story that he and his siblings would have to listen to. Victor tried to ask Charlie about his days, how he was adjusting to high school, but the boy would go silent.

He knew why, of course. Victor had just come back and now he was leaving again. Charlie wouldn’t even look him in the face afterwards, locking himself in his room. He’d yell at mom and dad and Victor would have to defuse the situation between them.

He wouldn’t admit it to his brother, but that just made him want to leave more. He couldn’t keep arbitrating between the both of them. As if he were someone they could both respect.

Vivian was a different story. The girl was only twelve, and she’d been eight when Victor left for college. He’d missed her growing up, and miss even more in the coming days. What’s worse was that she clung to his legs every day, bothered him and kept begging for him to stay.

He found it hard to peel her off of himself, and every time he did, Victor felt a bit more evil. He was supposed to be guiding her and Charlie both, and yet he wasn’t. if he were a better man then, maybe he would’ve stayed and relented. Maybe even made up with his friends after apologizing.

Kenneth wouldn’t accept that, which is why Victor had never bothered. His mother and father didn’t ask him about it much, mostly growing quiet around the subject.

After a few weeks his mother finally listened and let Victor go. Preparations were made and Victor wanted to have a talk with his little brother before he went.

“Charlie? Open up, man,” Victor knocked on the door to his room.

There wasn’t a single reply.

“Come on, I know you’re not sleeping in there,” Victor reiterated. “I just want to have a little talk.”

Victor stood outside of that room for a long time afterwards, hoping against hope that his brother would relent, but he never did. Victor spent an hour that way, until his father asked him to come along instead.

When he passed by the kitchen, his mother was talking to a crying Vivian.

“He has to go work, Vivian,” she said in her heavily accented voice. She was speaking more softly than usual, trying to make his sister understand.

“Come along, Victor,” his father told him.

He hurried up and out of the door. He took Victor on a ride but he didn’t know where. They passed by the usual joints they ate at and instead went to the expensive part of town. The part that had designer clothing and restaurants that would cost an arm and a leg for a meal.

When his dad stopped in front of one of those restaurants, Demure, he was even more surprised.

“What are we doing here, dad?” Victor asked him.

“Eating, what else?” the man chuckled.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

“You’ve got the cash for it?” Victor asked.

His father was a known miser. Wouldn’t spend a penny where there wasn’t a need for it. So, seeing him so close to a place where the dollars flowed like water made Victor a bit apprehensive.

“None of your problem. Now come along, we’ve got seats waiting,” his father told him.

The inside of the restaurant was even more impressive than the outside. There was red everywhere he looked, from the carpets and curtains to the sofas and seats. Victor spent half his time gawking at the surroundings and feeling underdressed for the occasion.

While everyone else there wore suits and dresses and looked to be on dates, his father had shown up in a plain shirt and pants and made Victor do the same. The man didn’t care for formality it seemed, which raised an eyebrow on the receptionist’s face.

He probably thought they were in the wrong place. When his dad showed the reservations, however, a waiter hurried them to their seat.

Victor remembered it well even now. It was sat near the window, round cushions surrounding a table. His father let him pick out whatever he wanted out of the menu. Victor hadn’t much of an appetite then, but he still listened and picked a steak.

His dad picked the same and the two of them waited for their food, handing in the menus. A silence dawned between the both of them while they did so, which told Victor that his father had much to say, or much to ask.

“Do you need money for the trip there?” he asked Victor. He shook his head.

“No, I’ve got enough.”

“What about a place to live? Do you have friends in Oakland?”

“No, but I’ll find a spot, dad. Don’t worry,” Victor placated him.

He nodded in reply and they sat for a while longer in awkward silence.

“Tell Charlie I’m sorry when I’m gone, will you?” Victor asked suddenly. His dad nodded once again, without a word.

When the food came in, they started working on it together. His dad rejected the wine the staff offered outright, which wasn’t much of a loss for Victor. He’d snuck sips here and there from his friends, but he never had beer or anything of the like fully.

He just didn’t feel the need to when he could grab a fresh Coke or Dew anytime he wanted. Luckily, the restaurant had those as well and poured it out for him. While they ate, they barely talked aside from little conversation here and there.

The meat of the steak was so tender that Victor had barely any need to work his teeth. The sauce that was poured over it was fantastic and he found himself finishing the vegetables on the side not out of need, but because he genuinely enjoyed the taste.

When it was gone, he felt full and laid back in his seat.

“Usually you kids take a picture beforehand,” his father chuckled as he took another forkful of meat into his mouth.

Victor frowned. He did forget, didn’t he?

“Next time around?” Victor asked with an awkward smile.

“If I win the lottery, I’ll take you to this overpriced place again,” his father replied.

They cleaned up and his father left the bills with hesitant hands. Victor smiled at the antics afterwards as they left the restaurant and returned to their car. When they got back inside, his father drove him home. Slowly.

“You’re a man now, Victor.”

The words came out of nowhere.

“You have regrets and that is fine. I have them too. But you are a man now and those regrets should not affect what you choose to do,” his father told him there. “You’re going to have to take care of yourself from now own. And when you have a family, you have to take care of them too.”

“How will I do that when I can’t even talk to Charlie?” Victor asked.

“He will come around. I’ll talk to him,” his father replied.

“And Vivian?”

“Your mother is handling her.”

“Your responsibility is to yourself now, son. You’re in the world now, and we won’t be around to make sure you are fed and clothed well. Understood?” his father asked. Victor nodded solemnly.

“Surround yourself with friends. Find someone you like. And take care of yourself,” his dad told him before he finished. For once he didn’t go on one of his tangents, though Victor wish he had.

“I will,” he promised to his father.

They came home late in the evening. Victor’s bus would be arriving soon, and he hugged his mother and father farewell that night. Vivian had cried herself to sleep so he wasn’t able to say goodbye himself, but he gave her a kiss on the forehead regardless.

His brother had also fallen asleep at that point, and his room was still locked. Victor slid a simple note under the door and left with his backpack over his shoulder.

His dad carried most of his belongings downstairs and waited outside with his mother. She looked worried even when Victor came down and smiled at her.

His mom bombarded him with a million questions afterwards, asking if he’d packed everything minus the house itself. When he answered yes to all, she finally backed off a bit and let him breathe.

“And call us every day. Don’t forget to brush your teeth. And if you get sick, tell me and I’ll come over,” she told him afterwards.

“It’s across the country, mom, I don’t think you could come that fast,” Victor told her.

“Don’t talk back to me. And eat your meals, you’re looking thinner.”

He didn’t know whether she was just seeing things or whether he was actually thinner, but he didn’t pry. When all was said and done and Victor’s ride arrived, his mother gave him a big hug and a kiss on the cheek.

His father hugged him as well and shook his hands afterwards, and the both of them waved as he rode off.

That was his biggest regret in life now. That he had ridden off, and left his family in Charleston. If he’d stayed, they’d still be alive, he knew it.

Or you would’ve been crushed right beside them.

And if that were true, maybe that would’ve been better than the crippling loneliness he felt then. He would only have to suffer the pain of death, and not the eternity spent by himself, not having anyone else who knew or understood him.