The Man In The Iron Mask

Dean was the keeper.

He was the first to know about his little brother. His mother had left the pregnancy test on the bathroom sink to answer the phone and while she was talking he had tugged on her leg and asked her what the stick with the blue line was.

He was the only first grader that could read music. His mother had taught him.

He was seven when he let the iron mask slip into place. His mother would've wanted him to be a big boy and help his father as much as he could.

He was fifteen when he lost his virginity. That first experience was the only time he enjoyed it unselfishly. After that it was an escape from the life he was trapped in, the woman he was with not wanting him to save the world or be her hero, just wanting him to share that one moment of complete ecstasy with her.

He was dangerous with a pistol.

He was thrown out of the gym after making too much of a ruckus when his brother stood up to give his valedictory address. He never knew his brother had thanked him for everything in his speech.

He was drunk for two days after he realized his brother had actually left had actually left.

Dean was the keeper.