The North and South story line really inspired me to write about John's past. I would love to hear your thoughts/reviews.


Prequel – A young John Thornton Part 1

The whistle of the train sounded as a young John Thornton waited on the platform for his train that would take him from boarding school back home. He was dressed in his full school uniform, with not one hair out of place. He had dark hair, a strong jaw line, and, while tall for his age, he had not broadened out and could even be described as thin. However when looking at the young man, his confidence seemed to radiate around him.

It was true that John had a strong feeling of self-importance which can only be described as coming from his upbringing. He had never wanted for anything and had led a privileged life.

His father, Mr Thornton, came from a wealthy northern family and was known for being a very proud and shrewd business man. He carried himself with an air of arrogance and had an intimidating way about him.

He was a tall man with black hair, broad shoulders, and cold piercing eyes. He was known as a cut throat businessman and did whatever it took to get what he wanted in business (with no concern for those who may be affected). He had little to no respect for those who worked under him, and believed that he was entitled to act like this because he was better.

He was generally stern in how he spoke to his son, with little laughter or warmth between the two. He was also very forthright in his expectations of his son, and had emphasised how important it was that John continue the prestigious Thornton legacy and the family business.

This pressure was not lost on young John, but as any young man, he looked up to his father and yearned to make him proud. So as such, he made a conscious effort to try and model his father despite his misgivings about him.

In contrast, John's relationship with his mother Mrs Thornton was much different. She loved young John fiercely and he knew this. She was the source of warmth and comfort in his world. There was not one thing she would not do for him and he knew this. She was his safe haven.

Mrs Thornton imparted wisdom, a sound work ethic and good morals onto young John. She too had come from a wealthy northern family, but valued hard work above all else. She had little time for non-sense or tomfoolery. She had no trouble in correcting John when he stepped out of line and it was thanks to her that he was (at all) grounded.

Truth be told, her marriage to Mr Thornton was a marriage of convenience not love. She had not known a true romantic love, and her stern exterior developed over time as a defence mechanism against her cold husband.

While there was a sense of partnership between the two, the build-up of ice between them over the years could not be melted by 1000 candles.

It was only John who made her heart melt.

At the train station, John thought about when he was home last which felt like an eternity ago. He felt conflicted. While he did not enjoy his father's harsh temper in the slightest but he had a strong sense of loyalty towards his mother and didn't like the idea of her being home without him.

As he stood there, with the train slowing down for boarding, a conversation from his last trip home kept ringing in his ears. His father and mother were having an argument (which was not unusual) about money. His mother stated that Mr Thornton was being foolish and selfish with an investment. Even in his young days John knew that you could only gamble what you could afford to lose. He had this deep unrelenting feeling in his gut that wouldn't go away. The kind that if you try and ignore it, the feeling only gets more intense.

He shook his head, as if to get rid of the nonsense floating around his head and boarded the train with a questionable anticipation for his arrival home.