The Slave

Chapter 4- My Father

"come on, Larry! Catch me!" my older brother Iggy told me playfully

"it's not fair, you're faster!" I replied tired

Iggy apparently didn't listen as he just ran to avoid me, I was getting tired and tired. Eventually, I managed to tackle Iggy down into a hug, he laughed and tickled at me.

"hahahaha! No, Iggy, no!" I laughed

We ran towards the doors of the castle and the sun got into my eyes when I opened it. My pupils eventually got used to the light and I could distinguish my brother Iggy's face, but not young and calm like in the dream I just woke up from, but his 17 year old face and with a deep sorrow expression. His green, plant like hair hadn't changed over the years, only his body had changed, being now skinnier and taller than the rest of my siblings. He couldn't contain tears, he often dried them with his arm.

I also distinguished my father standing behind him with his typical stare of seriously and strength, not even in this situation he allowed himself to show his feelings, he placed a comforting hand on Iggy's shoulder trying to comfort him.

"Larry, little brother… please, answer me!" Iggy pleaded me

"Doctors say he can't hear you, try to calm down" my father told him

"How is possible that this happened to you, Larry? Why? Why?" Iggy started to yell and hit my chest desperately

My father forces him to stand up and hugged him tightly against his chest to calm him down "you have to calm down Ignatius" he pleaded him

"How do you expect me to calm down? My brother is like dead!" Iggy yelled at the time he tried to step away from dad

"It's your fault!" was everything my older brother said before fainting

My father held him in his arms, rested him in a couch next to the door and hurriedly went out of the room to look for help.

"Big brother, forgive me! I never wanted to cause you s much pain, it's not your fault, you always took care of me when mom died"

Iggy began to regain consciousness just when dad came back with Esperanza.

"I'll apply him a calmative" she told him

She prepared a syringe and applied Iggy an injection on his arms

"It can be, it can be…" Iggy repeated as he remained rested in the couch

"He will be fine" Esperanza said and retired

I never saw my father so afflicted, only when mom died, he was desperate, seeing my dejected brother and turned to see me, clenched his fists and I could see how he gnashed his teeth as he clenched his jaw, I recognized the look he had when he was about to beat us. I felt afraid, but… something happened, suddenly, he took his hands to his face, kneeled next to my bed and started to cry.

It was hard for me to believe I was witnessing this; my father was always very hard with us. I knew he loved us because we never lacked anything but it was very hard for him to express his feelings. He kept crying for a long while and repeating: "it's not possible, it's not possible"…

"My son, I'm sorry" he told me as he placed my hand between his "I love you very much, you know?"

"No dad I didn't know"

"I always was very strict with you because I was taught that discipline was the most important thing. That was the education I received and life was very hard with me"

"now I understand dad, I don't understand how eagerness I have to hug and kiss you" I wanted to tell him

"I was always hidden behind a mask of fortress." He continued "and it's not until now, that you are here immobile and maybe you can't even hear me, I can express you how much love you. I know now, it's a grave mistake. Sometimes we act as if we had life bought, as if your beloved beings would always be with us. Maybe I should have been more loving, maybe I should have hugged you more and require you less. Maybe it's all my fault. But… what could I do, son? You know I always wanted the best for all of you, and when your mother died…

"Now I know dad. Please don't blame yourself anymore"

"You always repeated me to leave you alone, to let you live your life, but… I got desperate to see you wasted your time and affected your health. Maybe it should have been best to try and understand you and speak with you, however my father said that words with blood enter. Do you imagine? That's how I learned… now I know it's wrong. I'm very sorry."

He couldn't speak anymore and along his forehead into his hands as he stretched mine and cried with no stop.

Not he and I noticed Iggy had woken up and looked at him confused, he didn't know it what he was seeing was real or it was a effect of the drug he had been administrated. Filled of compassion, he hugged dad.

"We must be strong, dad" he told him "the star spirits will help us"

They spent the rest of the evening next to me, not talking anymore, just looking at each other and when one cried, he other tried to comfort him. this scene brought in my mind the memory of that time when I was in bed boiling in fever and my parents and siblings turned to take care of me. Slowly memories of my mother and siblings cares and my father's teachings came into my mind. Thanks to them I learned to walk, talk. If they hadn't loved me i would have never possible for me to survive.

How it's only now that I realize how much my family loves me, now that I don't have the chance to tell them how much I love them and how much I thank them for everything they have given to me?