Episode 46: Scene Five
Christian picked a violet from the garden to smell. Closing his eyes, he allowed the dark blue flower to fill his nostrils with its sweet, rich aroma. Becca smiled and laughed.
"Don't sniff too much, Chris. I don't want you saying you believe you can fly anytime soon," she joked.
Christian smiled as he opened his eyes and clutched the violet tighter. "I feel good, Becca. Real good. It's at times like this that I don't even have to think about...well, I don't want to think about it. All I want to think about is this flower. So simple yet so complete, so charming yet so strong. Too bad everyone in the world can't be like a violet."
Becca thought for a moment. "Yes, I suppose. But if everyone were a violet, we would never notice how rich and sweet it was because there would be nothing to compare it with. Like they say, 'what's a rose without a thorn.'"
"Don't go getting all philosophical on me!" Christian smiled wider.
"Hey, you started it. Come on, we need to get back on the road," Becca urged.
"I know we have to, but I don't want to. I just want to stay here, Bec. It's so quiet, so peaceful. I guess you could call it the calm before the storm," Christian became silent as he looked back down at the flower. "That's all I want, Becca: a little calm and a little peace."
Becca rubbed Christian's back with her hand. "I know, Chris. I know. But you know what, this could be all for the better."
"How? How could the ripping apart of my family possibly be considered 'better'?" Christian questioned, his eyes still on the flower.
"You would have signed your death warrant by staying on in that house the way it was. No one can live in a house where there's no love. I know I couldn't," Becca's eyes became starry and glazed.
Christian looked at Becca thoughtfully. He shrugged. "I suppose not. But I wouldn't say there isn't any love in my house. My parents love me. Well, at least they say they do. Maybe that's why they did it for as long as they did. Or maybe they did it just for their own selfish reasons." Christian took a deep breath. "I don't know what to believe. And quite frankly, I don't care anymore."
"Hey, don't say that," Becca soothed softly. "Things will get better for you. I know they will. Keep the faith, Christian. Always, no matter what, keep the faith."
Christian's lips parted into a small smile at Becca's words. Looking at the flower, he mumbled to himself, "Always keep the faith."