Auberon has a gaunt long rectangular face with a hooked nose. He has dark green eyes with a light pale complexion. He's about 6'2 and lanky. Auberon has heart shaped lips with short brown hair.
Auberon Laurier
Twelve Years Ago
Running is one of my favourite things to do, even if it hurts my legs a lot. I can't run for too long or they start to swell and that's really bad. I don't know why though. Elowyn doesn't swell when she runs and she's always sprinting about! She's even in the school track team! Maybe I'm not running enough? Or I'm going too slow!
So I speed up, pushing myself as much as possible! Elowyn always catches me, but I can never tag her back. I'm tired of always being it.
"Auberon? Where did you go?" She shouts, as I hide behind a very tall tree. Mummy says never to go in the forest, but going on the outskirts is fine! It's not like I'm actually going in, so she can't get mad. "You better not be in the forest!"
She keeps shouting, as I hear sticks crack around me. I try to hold my breath and hope the birds chirping are louder than me. But I hear her rummage around the bushes nearby. So I brace myself, ready to run…
"Found you!" She shouts, pouncing at me. I start to move because she can tap me, but she's much bigger and faster. That's not fair! She has an advantage. I try to swerve between the different trees, jumping over holes and trunks but it isn't working well.
Just as I'm going full speed, she tags me. But she pushes me too hard, like the bully she is. So I fall to the floor, my knees scraping on the sticks and stones on the floor. Ouch...it hurts, just a little. But I'm a brave boy, who will survive! I'm not going to let it stop me!
"Auberon! Are you ok? You're bleeding...a lot…" Elowyn panics, looking closely. I think there are tears in her eyes. I'm the one hurt, so I should be crying! "Just, stay still…"
Elowyn takes off the long socks she's wearing and starts to wrap it around my knee. The white sock is turning very red...like, ketchup. But darker. Blood is icky. "Can you walk fine?"
"Yeah! It's not like my legs fell off." I smile, standing up fine. I try to walk out of the forest and back to the meadow we were playing in, where Mummy and Daddy are having a picnic. I hobble a little bit, but it's not really hurting! I think they'll be very happy to see I'm so brave.
It turns out that while I was very brave, I wasn't actually fine. The bleeding didn't stop until I was given a blood clotting factor injection. That was the last time I'd ever play tag with my sister, because I found out that day I had haemophilia.
Five days ago
I can leave the house. As long as I take the necessary precautions to keep myself safe, I can totally leave the house and live my normal, regular, day to day life. But my mum will never let me leave until I physically have to. She's such a...worrywart! It's not like I'm going to die if I do get injured.
I know this won't be a forever thing though. It'd be completely illogical and unfathomable (is that the right word?) to keep me locked up in our mansion compound for the rest of my life. Now that I've just legally become an adult, my mother has to let me out soon. I'm my own person with somewhat of an empty head, but a lot of hope and ingenuity. It'd be unreasonable to keep me locked in.
As I wait for Lachlan, I begin to pace up and down the garden (it's more of a meadow.). I don't like standing still and waiting much, I much rather be constantly on the move. And there's no way I can hurt myself here. All the sharp pointy things were removed years ago, all the flowers with thorns were snipped off and there's no tools or anything to accidentally stumble on. Unless I could somehow cut myself on a petal or grass, I'll be completely fine!
I peek over the fence, wondering where he could be. My parents have allowed me to have some contact with the outside world, so I still have a phone. Maybe I should call him? Or I can wait for him to call me! I found this really groovy ringtone the other day and I love hearing it as much as possible. It's stuck in my head!
"Auby!" I hear Lachlan shout. Ah, that's him! I haven't seen him in a few days.
"Lachlan! What took you so long?" I shout. Quickly, I move the loose panel of wood out the way, so I can stare at him face to face. He is allowed in the compound through the normal way. But we sometimes do this to reminisce about the good old days, when we were younger! It does feel something out of like...a cartoon, or heartfelt emotional movie about two neighbors who grow to be lovers. And that's pretty much what we are!
Lachlan shrugged. "I had to work overtime."
"Ah. Unlucky. How was work today?" I ask, hoping he might have actually enjoyed it for once. I think I'd enjoy working in a clothes shop, but it probably seems boring and meaningless to Lachlan, who's spent his entire life in the outside world.
"Bad as usual. It's so...boring." Lachlan mutters, as he picks off blades of grass. He looks so cute, even when he's in a miserable mood. He dyed his curly hair a bright pink yesterday and it's so adorable.
That's...not good though. "Well, you'll be able to quit that job soon and do something not as...boring! It's just a part time, minimum wage job."
"Sure, but it's still a year of suffering." Lachlan picks an even bigger blade of grass. I feel the need to pick some too, as I don't like staying still for too long. Before I can speak though, Lachlan utters: "What would you like to do once you're let out, Lachlan?"
"I...don't know…" I mumble. I'd like to work wherever Lachlan is working, but knowing my luck, I'd probably accidentally cut myself on a clothes hangar and bleed to death. Once I start, I can't stop, until I get the necessary injections for the blood clotting factor to help the platelets patch the skin. "I'd like to see my artwork in a gallery one day!"
That'd be a dream come true! I feel like crying at the thought of it.
"I'd like to see that too." Lachlan smiles, as he rubs my hand. He traces around the bruises (thanks haemophilia), which gives me goosebumps. It really does feel nice to have somebody to hold…
Four Days Ago
"It isn't my best piece of work but…" Elowyn's voice trails off, as she hands me the photo over. But as I inspect it in the light, I think it looks perfect. Elowyn's photos always look amazing, so I don't know why she's so...insecure about it? She doesn't have to beat herself over it.
"It's still amazing! I can definitely use this, thank you!" I smile. It's a simple photo of the outskirts of the forest (I remember exploring a similar place when I was younger.) It definitely looks atmospheric...snow lightly taps the winter blooms, a slight fog has settled over the trees and the river (or is it more of a stream?) has frozen over. That'd be perfect for ice skating, though I've never been and most likely never will go. "What was it like there?"
Elowyn thinks for a second. She's pulled out another stool that she sits on when she watches me paint. "It's...nice. But I think you'd like the forest in the summer more."
The reason why is a little bit depressing, so I don't linger over it. I wouldn't have to worry about how slippery it is and I could accidentally trip over something blanketed in the snow.
"How is Paxton?" I quickly change the topic. Paxton is her boyfriend though I haven't seen him in a while.
"He's fine. It was scary." Elowyn starts to giggle. "He was walking on the river when he fell through. I thought he was going to die of hypothermia."
That'd be a terrible way to die! I've thought about all the ways I'd like to die and hypothermia definitely doesn't crack the top 10 list. "Is he ok now though?" I say, wondering if I sound too worried, as Elowyn certainly doesn't.
"Of course! You should have seen his face when he got out though!" She laughs, though I'm not sure if that makes me laugh? I just feel bad for him. But I still laugh along so Elowyn doesn't feel bad or awkward either.
Once we finish laughing, Elowyn sighs. "Ah, I'll just leave you for a bit, so you can focus on your painting. I'll be back soon, though."
"Oh ok. Goodbye Elowyn." I wave, as I begin to mix the reds and whites to make a lighter shade of pink than I have. And now I'm all alone, again. I try not to think too much as I paint, as I'm tired of the intrusive thoughts and want to focus on this. But as I start the river, I feel...weird. Like an aching pain. And not the ones in my joints when I don't do enough exercise or have my injections.
I want to fall through a river like Paxton has! I want to be able to take all these beautiful photos like Elowyn does! I want to take Lachlan to this forest where we can smell the flowers and throw snowballs at each other and hold hands…
And now I can't focus on my painting! I'm not going to be able to do any work when I'm like this. Maybe I should do something else to distract me...probably like my daily exercises, to help prevent bleeding in my joints. I guess it's time for the treadmill.
Three Days Ago
"Auberon, living here is like a prison...I don't know why you're continuing to stay here now you're an adult." Lachlan states the obvious.
"Well it's not a life sentence." I stick out my tongue. "We've been making plans to place me back into...society…"
"Well, you should hurry up then." He frowns. We sit in silence, holding hands while my head rests on his lap, in the darkness of my bedroom. I am not the biggest fan of darkness but it's rather comforting now. As long as I have Lachlan by my side, I don't need to worry.
"I won't be able to come around tomorrow, sorry." Lachlan frowns. I quickly snap my head up. That means I'll be alone for a lot of tomorrow as my family and the few friends I do have are at my father's party…
"Why not?"
"I'm going to be helping out my aunt with her wedding preparations. We're organising the venue and getting everything ready for the weekend." He frowns. That's...exciting. But his tone is saddened. He should be excited.
That's when the idea hits me. "I can help out too! I'll come along and assist you!"
Now it's Lachlan's turn to snap upwards. He pushes the air with his hands. I wish I could make out his expressions on his face but it's too dark. Maybe we should drown in the light again. "Woah, woah, slow down there. You haven't left the compound in years and the first time you're going to try is...to help out with my aunt's wedding?"
That sounds good to me! What better way to spend my first day out with the man I love the most? "Yeah? How else should I spend it? With another big party or some shit like that?"
Lachlan shakes his head. "No, no...this a fine time. It's just this all very quick. You're doing this thing again where you plan and speak before thinking."
Maybe? What is there to plan? I can just tag along and do whatever I can. I know my haemophilia will probably get in the way but there must be something I can do, right? "No...I'm not-"
"You are Auberon. I don't think you can come along. It'll be too dangerous for you." Lachlan's tone sounds...disappointed? Frustrated? Apologetic? All of the above? "Your parents aren't going to let you out either."
"But didn't you just say I should do something about that? You said I was living in a prison." I think back to the earlier conversation we had a couple of minutes ago. He couldn't have forgotten already, has he? Because I remember every word that came out of his mouth!
Lachlan sighed. "Yeah, but...this isn't what I meant. We actually have to think things through now. I want you to be able to have freedom and go outside and whatever else, but this isn't the way to go about it. Sorry Auberon."
I guess he's right. I did do that thing that I always do where I plan ahead which really gets on everybody's nerves apparently. But it's just...if this isn't the time, when is the time? I think in most scenarios I could probably get seriously hurt. The possibility is always there, it's just a lot higher for me. You still leave everyday when you could get hit by a meteor, or run over by a lorry or struck by lightning or crushed by a falling building…
But the point is, the danger is always going to be there for me. But I know I'm smart enough to push through it. It's this thinking that's keeping me stuck in this compound!
Two Days Ago
The house is empty and silent, as if there's a funeral going on. But I know a couple of streets across, everybody's having the times of their lives. I can almost hear the ear shattering music in the night, see the flashing lights and sense all the fun they're having (if that makes sense?)
But I'm stuck in the compound writing my poetry homework. It's a good way to vent my thoughts and emotions on paper. But who wants to be writing poetry when all their loved ones are partying? Plus, my father owns the nightclub they're at, so they can have these parties often.
At least they're having a fun time! And eventually, one day, I'll be invited to these parties too. Once my father acknowledges I exist and stops hiding the fact that I'm his son to the public...
Just as I finish the third line, I hear a buzzing on the door from the speakers. Wondering who it could be, I hop out the living room, down the winding corridors and to the main entrance.
"Elowyn? Why aren't you at the party?" I say, trying to sound worried, though I probably sound over the moon.
She shrugs. "I didn't want to be there. And I feel bad for leaving you all alone. And I wanted to spend some time with you." She emphasises the ands.
Elowyn steps in and slips her coat off, unties her hair and kicks her heels off. She looks exhausted…"Don't worry about me! You should have just...enjoyed the party! You look like you need a good drink." I flinch, realising that was a strange thing to say.
"Thanks." She laughs. I follow after her into the living room. "Really, I don't want to be with dad and all of his pretentious work mates. They're unbearable when they're together. Especially when they're drunk."
"Yeah, they seem like it!" I say, while going over to my poetry. I pick up the pens and start to place them in the case. In the corner of the eye, I see Elowyn slink into the massive snakeskin sofas.
"What have you been doing here then?"
"Oh, that isn't important. Tell me more about this party and the drinking…" I smile, desperate to know what it's like. It doesn't matter what I've been doing, does it? Why would anybody care about my pitiful life? But I care about what Elowyn's doing and what the outside world's like. I've never been to such a massive party like she has!
One Day Ago
"You were accepted into the Saturn Games?" My mother whispers, going dreadfully pale. She looks like a banshee. She kind of reminds me of one sometimes, as her scream is equally as dreadful.
"Yeah, I really should have told you, shouldn't I?"
That's also me begging for you not to bite my head off. This is meant to be a happy, celebratory moment.
Mother is clearly deep in thought, thinking about everything and the dangers and the benefits and the drawbacks and what will happen after and if I'll be safe. She's always been an open book...somewhat. She then sits down in the chair in the corner of my room, clearly taken aback. "Yes, you should have."
"It'll be fine though, Mum. This is such a good thing, isn't it? I finally get to go out and experience life! And what better way to do it through these games?" I ask, hoping she sees it from my perspective. I was overjoyed when I found out earlier and I'm not having that joy ruined!
"Well, there'll be weapons, won't there? And a deadly arena? And...the training and facility certainly won't be safe." Mother frowns, before pursing her lips. She taps her fingers on the drum, clearly unable to hold her worry.
"I'll have to be extra careful on the training side, but the actual games will be done in this virtual reality machine. There'll be no way for me to get injured! And they might be able to remove my condition in the machine!" I smile, suddenly thinking of that. I could live normally in the arena, even if it's only for a week or so!
Mother nods along to this. "That's...comforting, almost." She then sighs heavily. "I can't stop you Auberon, you're your own man now…but, please, just be careful. Promise me this?"
"Of course! I'll be as safe as I can possibly be. I'll make sure of it." I smile. She stands up and walks to me on my bed, pulling me into a tight hug.
"Thank you. I know I might not show it much...but I'm so proud of you Auberon. So so proud of everything you've done and so proud that you've lasted so long here. So make sure you continue to do me proud in that arena too."
This feels weird, but I won't say no to all this appreciation! So I mutter a few thanks as she speaks, as I have no idea what to say, or what I'm meant to say. But I know that this feels rather good. Thank you Mum. I'll do my best for you.
