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He takes his Chinese out the microwave and is out the door. I glance back at the package trying to remember if I ordered anything before I assume that Mason was on my amazon account by accident again.
When I pick it up, it has my name written in huge letters on the front with no address. I never get any mail and I hate how much this has piqued my curiosity. I rip the tape off the top and look at the contents inside. All I see is a folded-up piece of paper and wonder why the fuck this was in a box.
As I start to read, my grip on the paper grows tighter and tighter until I can’t make out anything through the red in my eyes.
This can’t be happening to me. I was beginning to think the time surrounding my birthday was cursed and that God wanted to see me uncomfortable.
I throw the letter in my locker and push what I just read to the back of my mind so I can finish my shift. I close the door a little too hard as I leave the breakroom, causing a few of the customers inside to look in my direction.
The rest of my shift is a blur, me working on autopilot as I answer customer questions, ring up others and close the store for the night. As I go to grab my jacket, the letter stares at me from where I left it earlier. I quickly pick it up, stuffing it into my pocket, then leave out the back door and walk home. The letter burns a hole into not only my jeans, but my mind as I take the long way to get home. I try to sort through the confusion and my jumbled thoughts, deciding to take a detour into the bar that’s a couple minutes away from my place.
Drinking always makes me forget, but something tells me this is something I can’t escape from.
Chapter 2
Canon
It’s my birthday.
And just like my eighteenth, this one is being made into a big deal.
The party Mason and Ian planned is starting in about an hour, but I have yet to leave my room today. They came pounding on my door three hours ago and promised to be back later.
The letter that’s forced its way into my already fucked but functioning life has caused me to not want to do anything but smoke, drink and be alone.
I’ve read it over and over again as if somehow the words will magically change, but of course it’s still the same sentences looking back at me.
Canon,
I know this might be a little old fashioned and unconventional nowadays, but my wife tells me writing a letter is more personal so…here goes.
My name is Kane Peterson and I’ve recently discovered that I am your biological father. Your mother was Veronica Wilson, and even though we were once acquainted, I haven’t spoken or heard from her in almost 22 years. I am truly sorry about your loss. She was a joy to be around. Unfortunately, she didn’t disclose that she was pregnant.
Believe me when I say, if I had known about you, I would’ve been there. I would like to do that from now on. I would love it if you came by for dinner sometime soon. There’re people I’d like you to meet, or it could just be us two.
Please give me a call at the number below or stop by my office at the address in the top right corner of this letter.
I hope to hear from you soon.
Kane.
I drop the letter on the pillow next to me.
I am your biological father.
Biological father.
Father.
This could be somebody playing a joke on me. It could be someone from the Owl Brotherhood, a local neighborhood gang, that’s been the biggest pain in my ass recently. I stole some of their supply to help Ian and I get a little cash, and they might’ve found out it was me even though I was more than careful. This could be the revenge. Come to think of it, they have been abnormally quiet recently.
Or say this guy is telling the truth, I highly doubt my mom never told him about me. She wasn’t like that. She wouldn’t have let us struggle alone for that long.
I let out a loud groan just as there’s a knock on my door.
“Aye bro. If you don’t let me in right now, I’m kicking this door off the hinges. You know I’m good for it,” Ian’s voice calls from the other side of the door. Reluctantly, I push myself out of bed and turn the lock on the knob, opening the door to see Ian leaning against the stove to the left.
We don’t live in the fanciest of places unless you consider a trailer park fancy. We have big dreams and are penny pinching to achieve them as fast as possible.
