Please check the last conversation in chapter 7 year 2035 to follow where this story is picked up

This is very short but very important and heavy with emotions.

I hope you would like it

Tell me what you think?


Chapter 11 – Confrontations

Year 2035

I heard Aunt Robin break down in sobs. She was done arguing but I could feel in Dad's voice that he was still angry, maybe at me because of what happened earlier or maybe more on their argument now.

"Now you're crying?" He was shouting at her, as if I was not on the other room.

A short pause. He snuffled (was he tearing up too?) then continued talking with his voice louder and angrier.

"I was a happy man, Robin! I enjoyed those lazy nights that we just lay in bed, watch on my giant TV, and eat ice cream with beer; those crazy travels; those Halloweens; the jokes and the laughs; each and every waking morning with the smell of you by my side" he choked up on those last words.

I could hear Aunt Robin calm her breathing to try to talk.

"You banged a lot of chicks after the divorce" She said but her voice was shaking and was overwhelmed by her crying.

He did not answer right away as if that statement sipped through him and knock his conscience.

"You didn't even care!" He won't back down. "You just left. Moved from country to country. Never even called. Not once did you greet me on my birthday, or Christmas, or New Year. Those holidays that we were happily celebrating together. The gang missed you! But YOU DIDN'T CARE"

"It was not fun to bang chicks you don't know the names. It was desperate and sad! I was broken, as I was before. That year…that year I wanted you back." He added not giving her the chance to respond.

He stopped. He contemplated the happenings on that year. He had told me about it before.


Year 2020

It is weird for a divorce guy to still keep a picture of his wedding in his wallet. But that was what I did.

Last year, a girl I banged called me and said she was pregnant. In just a few more days, I'm officially a dad. My life is over. Robin would never want me back; she hates kids, especially if that kid is my child with another woman!

The day the girl called me to give me the news, was the day I swore to stop messing around and get my ex-wife back. I planned to go to Russia that weekend where she was assigned. I had a guy to buy me a rush plane ticket. I cleaned my apartment, put up the wedding photos where they were before, went to the liquor store to buy our favourite scotch, and went to the cigar bar to order a pack of El Piramide. I called James to tell him about my plan and he encouraged me and said, 'if Tom and I got together then you would too!'

I was excited but then the girl called. The plan was wasted. I told the gang the bad news about the baby at the robot vs. wrestler arena, they were shocked as well. I went home and drank the whole bottle of scotch that I bought earlier. I didn't care about anything anymore.


Now, the birth is coming soon. I think I would run away from this place after that.

It was a hard day at work. I decided to eat dinner at the restaurant just near my office before I went home.

The place was full and loud. You could hear the conversations around you. The waiter got me a lovely table. I sat down and got the menu.

"I have always been thinking of you" Said by a girl at the table behind me.

"You are just lost right now. You don't mean that" The guy replied.

"At my wedding, the things I've said…" Wait, I know that voice. "that I should be with you. I never stopped thinking of that. The wedding was a mistake Ted."

"No" He replied.

I turned my head around to affirm that my thoughts. It was really Robin and Ted at the other table. My head started spinning when I saw her there. Ted was already standing from the table while she was pleading him to stay and listen.

"Look, everything I did was a mistake. I should never have broken up with you in the first place. I should have never married Barney." She paused. I stood up. "It was always you Ted. I love you"

I walk out of the restaurant after hearing those words. I got back to my apartment and went straight to bed. I stared at the ceiling, at nothingness. I could feel a pain on my chest. My head was still spinning. I got hold of my phone and called James.

"Hey Barney, wat up?" He picked up my call.

"…." I did not say anything. I started to cry.

"Bro?"

I just continued to cry without saying any words. My sobs turned into tantrums.

"Just let it out" He said quietly. James did not hung up the phone. He just listened to my crying.

I did not know how the call ended. I just woke up the next morning with a drowned feeling. I got up and said to myself, 'when I'm sad I stop being sad and be awesome instead'

I tried to move on. I tried to forget the happiness I once knew of. I tried to be that guy again, the guy that is never hurt because he did not love anyone.


When I held my baby in my arms, I had hope. A hope to redeem my life. This kid will never feel what I have felt. She will be loved and I will protect her from anyone who would hurt her. I will love her forever.


"You fooled me Robin!" He inhaled deep and exhaled loudly. "You could have just told me that you never loved me. Why announce to others and hide it from me instead?"

"Yes, I know the things you told Ted at that dinner date long ago." He added immediately. He was clearly crying too.

They were both hysterical, I began to get worried. I got out of my room and took a peek at dad's room.

"Barn.." She struggled to speak. "Please don't hate me"

They looked each other in the eyes.

"I hate myself for not being able to hate you" He responded softly.

Dad approached Aunt Robin and hugged her tight. Aunt Robin wrapped her arms around dad's waist as a response. It lasted for about a minute then Aunt Robin calmed a little. Dad broke the hug and went towards the door. He saw me standing there.

"Get back to your room" He said with an authoritative tone. Aunt Robin took a glance too. She wiped her tears away and tried to stop her sobbing. She went on my dad's bed and sat there as she tried to compose herself again.

I just stood there. Dad went pass me and down the stairs. He took a glass of water from the kitchen and brought it back to Aunt Robin who was now sitting at dad's bed. She took the water and drank it. Dad walk towards me and repeated, "Get back to your room"

This time I obeyed. I was afraid that dad may get angry at me again when I won't follow what he said.

Three hours later I heard the door open from his room. I checked what was up. They both walked out of the room. They went out of the house and I heard the car start. They drove away leaving me alone in the house.