(Warnings: Some violence, depressing tones, mentions of past events, some swearing if you're sensitive, and one part with someone being racist to someone else. Anyways, enjoy this story and I hope you can figure out the couple in the end. And this introduction is short but the chapters will be long, I promise)
Arthur Kirkland, aged twenty nine years old, took another pint of alcohol as he sat gloomily near the counter in his own house. Years had passed and he had made terrible mistakes. Horrible, utter mistakes. Things had taken a major downfall in his time and he knew he wasn't getting any younger. By now beer was tasting the same and work was more like going to one's funeral. He had lost everything. He lost the trust of his friends, his parents were shamed, his brothers never sent Christmas gifts, and Arthur found he couldn't love anyone anymore.
He didn't know what had happened, to be honest. One day he was his normal self but he started getting a little meaner and more irritable to his favorite people. Then he would make mistakes like break belongings or loose something, as well as that one time he gave very wrong directions. It was mostly out of stress. At the same time his parents somehow were able to have one more child and thus his younger brother Peter was born which caused even more stress. That had been six years ago, and in those six years, he lied, broke hearts, stole, and felt loss. The loss of those he wanted.
With a groan, Arthur felt like he had drank enough and looked to his typewriter that hadn't also been touched in those six years. Curiously, he went over and typed, even if the signs of a drunk headache were coming on
Dear friend,
Arthur froze and read the two words. He had no idea if he was writing a letter or if he was just getting drunk and was not really thinking. He just sat there, a bony hand shaking a little in impatience as the other hand continued to type.
I'm very sorry.
As Arthur read those next words, he ripped the paper out of the brass machine and threw it to the ground, frustrated. Sorry? sorry for what? God-dammit he probably was getting drunk. Arthur stormed upstairs after turning off all of the lights and got prepared for bed. He undressed into nothing but a single pair of dark grey boxers and looked over at the mirror. He also had changed in the time. For once, facial hair was on him and he had a three day old scruff on his face which looked odd compared to how youthful he was. Also dark circles lined under his eyes. Don't forget all the weight he lost either. Arthur was very skinny now and was underweight because of it. It wasn't like he didn't like to eat, he was in debt and his job made little money, so food was tough to buy and he could only afford three meals a week and a case of beer.
At-least the war was over and he was no longer in service...But he still had fond memories of everything. Arthur moved into his bed, pulling the thick blanket over himself as he thought about the war that once made him happy. But all those people he hurt needed apologies and Arthur closed his eyes in thought. He could do it, he decided.
Every day he would apologize to someone. Starting from the least hurt to the most hurt.
He was Arthur Kirkland and he was going to change his life around.
