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Ten Years Ago
THEME TWENTY-FOUR
“Stop it Ed.”
I heard him, but pulled the bottle closer to my lips anyway and took a sip. The taste was as bitter and unpleasant as it usually was, but like every other alcoholic I liked it. “Ouch!” I hissed in pain as some of the spirits fell onto my unshaven chin and entered a fresh wound. That was the last time I tried to shave my beared of again. How dare it hinder my drinking problem?
“Put the bottle down and go home!” Al yanked me, resulting in my hand swiftly flying backwards in a desperate drunken attempt to throw a very heavy bottle of vodka at him. It missed, as we both knew it would and casually smashed on the newly upgraded cement road. I almost chuckled at the pathetic attempt this town made every ten years to try and “update” the town. Just because it had been ten years, didn’t mean that any other cars were passing by here at any time.
Al looked over at me with shock. I shrugged. “Go home to your wife you bastard.”
“Why don’t you go home Ed! You’ve given her enough grief.”
I looked towards the window where Winry was only a small dot from this hill. But I saw her cooking for her family. It wouldn’t be long till she came to visit the grave. I’d try and fix things with her then.
“Home?” I snickered. “I don’t have a home Al. Stop rubbing it in my face. I’m not your family anymore. You haven’t needed me since we returned from Germany ten years ago. You haven’t needed me.” I wiped the alcohol from my lips resulting in another bitter sting and started to regret smashing my only company for the night. I’d had this argument with him too many times, and I knew he wasn’t going to retaliate. He’d told me too many times that I was the only reason he was alive with his body. Why did we even have to come back here? We were happy there, we had a life there. How was it that he could let that go so easily and start a new one here?
Because this was where he always wanted to be...
I was warned by Winry all along that our quest was the only thing I had left, and that once it was fulfilled I’d have nothing left. It’s funny how Al started off being the empty armour, and now I was even emptier than he was. Why didn’t I listen when she said she wasn’t going to “wait” for me anymore? I guess I was too young then to realise that she was all I really had ten years in the future.
“Fine, I’m going home I can’t do this anymore, yes because I have a family, something I care about. You’re pathetic Ed... If she tells me tomorrow that you have been a bother,” He paused as I smirked at him and he simply waved his hand as a gesture to brush me off. He walked away.
The air was warm and heavy around me; I could sense the rain in the air. Winry and her two daughters were eating dinner now. I couldn’t see her husband anywhere.
Minutes passed by, and I licked my lip in frustration. It was already nine; she should have been starting her trek to the grave yard by now. My head battled the want to simply join her and her two daughters for dinner. Somehow I felt that I should have been their father, and I would have laughed in my own face if I had thought something like that ten years ago. Ten years changed everything, after all the proud moments I’d had in Germany, after all the respect I’d earned, it was degrading to know that all I was here was the town drunk. Perhaps rapist and thug too according to my next door neighbour. Small town women would talk about anything to keep themselves amused.
“Ed.”
I knew that voice so I didn’t even bother to turn around, I simply sneered. He was always so kind to me, it was patronising, how dare he ever pity me.
“What are you doing here Ed?” He kneeled and put his briefcase on the floor next to him. But he wouldn’t stoop as low as to actually sit here in the dirt with me. What do you know; miracles could happen to me to!
“Your home a bit late aren’t you.” I hissed. “She’s made dinner and is waiting for you, and you just casually stroll down here and come to talk to me. You’re disgusting.” I glared forward, looking at Winry. Her happiness radiated even to this lonely place, and I knew better than anyone that this man was a better choice than I ever was.
“My train was late, yes,” he agreed. “I rang her to let her know. But our dinner isn’t actually ready yet, she just had to feed the girls they were so hungry.” He sighed. “But why should I explain that to you. You out of all people should know what it is to be late Ed. How about ten years late.”
His words stang and I kept silent.
“Look I’m sorry. But I don’t know why you sit here every night, Winry can see you, she isn’t stupid.” He opened his wallet and pulled out a photo of her. I stole a glance at it before averting my eyes quickly to the ground. “We aren’t so different Ed. We both have something in common. We love this woman, and I’m grateful for your love to her.” He handed me her photo. I clutched onto it, starting at her face intently.
“I don’t love her.” I whispered shakily. “I just wanted to visit Pinako’s grave with her, because she was my grandmother too.”
“She will see you again Ed. But not while you’re in this state. She has already been to see Pinako, she knows how to avoid you.” He replied. I could hear the sympathy in his voice. He stood slowly with a yawn, stretching his body. “Ed, I could never replace you to her. Sometimes this hurts knowing that you were always the one she wanted. But people change, she has changed. Ten years is just too long to hold on. He picked up his case and headed down to the house. I watched him with jealous eyes and held her photo close. Why did it hurt so much when I saw him open the door. He was greeted with warm and welcoming arms. His two daughters practically ran up to him with glee. I felt like the unluckiest man alive. The tears stung my weary eyes.
“I don’t love you, Winry.”
I rose slowly, staggering to my feet and thought it was best to pick up the dangerous bottle on the ground. Or I’d be blamed about it surely.
I knew I’d drink another bottle or two tonight. Maybe that way I could convince myself of that lie, and start to live for something again tomorrow.
SATURN STARS
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