Chapter 3: Is that what it means to love someone?
Icy wind hit the two's faces and the light sprinkling danced on them as they strolled down the lonely road, seeking any nearby exits from the city. If it didn't come down to this, David would've LOVED to take Max on a hike like this. His attention turned to the small, curly haired boy walking alongside him, his expression unreadable. The memories flooded back as he clung to David's hand and inched closer to him. He smiled. Two years ago, Max would've killed himself before he would've resorted to giving affection to David. Now look at how far they've come. He remembered the pessimistic aggravating 10-year-old that would go out of his way to exasperate anyone with authority, while David would smile through it all with ease.
Seeing the tears threatening to fall from his eyes on Parents Day broke David's heart into millions of pieces. He didn't understand – why can't Max's parents give him the love that he so desperately needs? It was like his eyes were opening for the first time ever. A strong wave of determination hit him, the sudden urge to protect him, to be the loving parent he never got the opportunity to have. The moment Max's parents never returned to pick him up, he knew he had to fill in that spot for him. Because somebody fucking has to. Over time, he'd grown to love Max, not just as his smartass angry camper, but as his son.
Parenting Max is like a fuzzy blanket. Sometimes it's too hot to have that blanket over him, or it would irritate him having to keep it wherever he goes, so it would anger him, or he would push you away. But sometimes, it's the perfect solution to his problems. On bitter, stormy nights, that blanket will always be there by your side to give you that warm, comforting love. That's the unbreakable bond that they've developed. They depend and look out for each other.
Maybe that's what it means to love someone.
Maybe this young boy that was holding his hand was the blessing that comes from persistence, kindness, and responsibility. Maybe it was his destiny to forget who he was, in order to prioritise and become what someone needs him to be. To be in charge of this boy's safety, his well-being and his health. To risk everything, even potentially his life, to protect him.
Maybe this is what it means to be a father.
Max to David was the greatest gift he had ever received. He was his whole world, and all those nights of outrage and hatred, tears and restlessness, laughter and amusement were all so worth getting to nurture the sweet boy that he had found deep inside him...
His faint smile faded into a frown as he set his attention back to the long road ahead of them as they walked in silence.
…But Daniel was trying to take his everything away.
And there was no way in hell that he was going to let that happen.
OK SO sorry for the short chapter, i just wanted to show off something sYmbOlIC anD beautiful
it'll hopefully be a longer chapter next time
peace