Legacy
Tim
I traced the outline of the wing on the cover. The book was a gift from my uncle. He doesn’t love me, or care about me, or anything. Never has. But the crash made him feel guilty, at least, for a while. Guilty for leaving me with my aunt, I guess. She’s an alcoholic. Or was. I don’t suppose she could get any booze in jail. Or maybe she’s out by now. I wouldn’t know. She’s banned from contacting me. I guess that’s a good thing.
And now I’m stuck with this stupid foster family that doesn’t give a crap about me either. But that’s better than my aunt. Hell, anything’s better than my aunt.
My uncle didn’t want me, even though he was my only living relative. But he has money, and once in a while, he sends some money as a Christmas present. Like I said, better than nothing.
Which was how I was able to buy all the other books. It’s a book series, and I’m obsessed with them. I guess I like that guy Tobias. I dunno, maybe it’s ‘cause I can relate to him. I mean, I have a pretty lousy life. Being a bird doesn’t sound all that bad. I’d miss being human, but I wouldn’t miss my life.
Well, at least I don’t have to stay with my aunt anymore. All because of the accident. I guess I’ll have to thank her for that.
She was drunk that night. She was driving. We crashed. Straight into a tree.
I broke my leg, my nose, and was in a coma. She broke both arms.
I was in the hospital for three weeks. And that’s when something quite strange happened. I can’t remember all of it, just that cool steel on my forehead...
He looks at me, and he smiles. <My son.>
He is different, not human, and yet I feel the love he has for me. "Father?"
<Yes.>
"Why did you leave us?"
<I’m sorry. I had to. The galaxy needed me, and one day it will need you too.> He has a tail. There is a blade on it. He presses the broad side to my forehead. The cool steel...
Memories. Not my own. Someone else...his. I can’t understand. Things I don’t know. So many things...images, sounds, emotions...all blurred together.
He’s fading. Everything is fading.
<I love you, my son. Live.>
I open my eyes. A white ceiling. A doctor peers down at me. He says something.
I blink. I try to say something, but the words don’t come right. Splinters of pain fill me head. I go back to sleep.
When I woke up again, the doctor was gone. I realized I was in a different room.
Suddenly, my uncle walked into the room. "Tim?"
"Hi." I muttered.
"The doctor says you’re going to be okay."
I said nothing.
He sighed. "Look, kid, I’m sorry. I knew your aunt had a problem. Heck, I was married to her. Maybe my leaving was the reason she started drinking. I don’t know. I shouldn’t have left you there. I’m sorry."
I shrugged.
He handed me a package. "Look, I have to go. My flight’s in an hour. Have to get to London for an important business meeting. I’ll call later, okay?"
I nodded, doubtful that he would actually keep his word.
He patted my shoulder awkwardly. "I’m real sorry, kid. If I had known..."
It really didn’t matter what he said. I already knew the truth. It wouldn’t have mattered if he had known. He still would have never taken me in.
He stood up. "Hey, uh, I hope you enjoy the present. My neighbor says kids your age love them. Talk to you later." And he was gone. He never called back. I was put in foster care.
But the books...those were his present. A four-book set. I read them in the hospital ‘cause I was bored. And I loved them. I was completely hooked. Afterwards, I spent every cent I had on more. I had fallen in love with a world that didn’t exist.
The book I held was one of the one he had given me. The first one I read. It was about a kid trapped as a hawk. Oh, how I wanted to be that kid. To have that kind of friends. That kind of freedom. It would have been the greatest thing in the world.
I leaned back and stared into the sky, imagining flying over the world on wings.
That’s what I want to do. I thought to myself.
I want to fly.
Legacy: Part Six -Robyn
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