As far as he was concerned, January 5 was when it all began; but he knew better than to judge a book by its cover.
The past can be visited, but if there are no records to account for it, can you really be sure what actually happened?
Does it matter, in the long run, as long as you get to press continue?
He decided he’d better quit while he’s ahead; he has to pickup his mom from the airport in the morning, and there’s no telling if she’d actually show up, but he has no choice but to hope she’d be there; unlike for the past 10 years.
He turned his PC off, set his alarm for the morning and fell asleep listening to music.
He’d have been sound asleep if it weren’t for the sudden shattering of glass downstairs. Living alone, his instinct wasn’t to go investigate since he knew he was safer upstairs in his bedroom than to go towards whatever it is that decided to visit him dead late at night.
He decided to text someone, anyone, to let them know he’s alive at the current moment; and if he doesn’t contact them again in a few hours,
“..please at least suspect something.” He caught himself pleading to himself, in his head.
He grabs his phone and texts his girlfriend, Kaleigh,
“Hey. Possible break in..not calling cops yet since it might be nothin. Call me when you wake up”
He left it at that. He loved her, but he knew he’d get a chance to remind her once she called, because he had hoped he would be okay..and from experience, hoping usually got him what he wanted.
Usually, when fear and doubt didn’t overpower that hope.
He was halfway downstairs when he realized he had forgotten his glasses; but continued walking anyway.
He found the source of the shattered glass; it was the mirror hanging on the wall, next to the picture of his mother.
“What the fuck?” He said out loud.
The picture of his mother seemed more sad than usual. She was beautiful, in a tragic way. She had eyes that told so much; almost pleaded,
“Please help me”
Of course, growing up, he was used to her asking for help from men.
When she wasn’t with James, she was with any Tom, Dick, or Harry; anyone but his father. Anyone that had resources she could suck dry; but it was all she could do.
In the picture of her, there he was, standing next to her full of promise and hope. At age 24 years old, Connor had hoped to have been a college grad by now, but one miserable day led to the other and suddenly; 6 years have gone by, with nothing much to show for.
He cleaned up the broken glass, and laid on the couch. He never realized how comfortable the couch could be, and with that being his last thought, he fell asleep once again; undisturbed for the next 5 hours.
Soon, his phone buzzed with a text from Kaleigh: “Connor, r u ok??
I tried calling but ur not answering. Please let me know ur ok, I love you.”
Connor woke up, hours later and full of energy. He slept especially well, knowing today might be the day he finally gets to see his mother.