Eyes wide open. Alaska. A beautiful states in Western United States with a population of 736,081 or more than quadruple the combined populations of Northern Canada and Greenland.
Alaska was occupied by various indigenous peoples for thousands of years before the arrival of Europeans. Approximately half of Alaska's residents live within the Anchorage metropolitan area.
Gibson breathed in a smile, the bus entering the town towards the bus station. Four days on the road alone, his mind never forgets his ex-wife, Belle and his kids.
He slipped his hand under the jacket then pulled out a picture of his family Craig gave to him.
He smiles but in the meantime he feels very sad about his divorce. He doesn't want his life ended by divorce, he wants to know more about Vincent and Poppy. Got a chance to be part of the family he had missed for years.
A family he desires. And now here he was. Alaska. New journey, new life.
"Pretty". Gibson turns on his right, an old man spoke to him. "Your wife and kids?" Gibson nods. "They're beautiful. What brought you here in Alaska, son?"
"Job. New life".
"Are you divorce?" asked the old man. Gibson nodded again. "What a shame. You have a beautiful family and you end up by divorce. That is not good, son. Cherish these moments while you can. You will never get this until the day you die. Trust me, son. I regret what I did to my wife and children''.
Gibson stares at the old man. "What you did, sir?"
"I'm a good drinker. Every night I beat my wife, jobless, and always asked her for money and gambling. If she does not give me anything I want.. I choked her to death, hurt her. I beat my children too. God I hate myself. Until I realized when the police came to the house and arrested me that night. I was sleeping on the sofa. When I woke up and saw my wife and children unconscious, they were bleeding on the carpet".
Gibson sees the old man crying then wipes his tears. The old man sobbing.
"This hand killed my family. I kill my own blood, wife and children. I stabs them with knife laid beside me while I'm asleep, the neighbor called in and I get arrested for murderer of my family".
"Rest in peace".
The old man reached Gibson's hand. "Do not waste your time, son. Go back where you came from, marry her back and have your family".
"The judge has already made the decision, sir. I make my own decision, for her own good. I just like you, sir. I hurt my family, I went to prison for my mistake, my old past did this. I was happy to call her my wife that I married and I cannot take my word back neither can I turn the time and fix everything".
The old man nodded. Both Gibson and the old man had the same previous guilty of life.
"What's their name, son?".
Gibson smiles proudly. "My wife, Belle. This is our twins, Vincent and Poppy". He looked up from the picture. "What is your name, sir?"
"McGoogan. Darius McGoogan".
"Victor Gibson". He smiled.
Later that. The bus stops at the station center. Gibson helped the old man climb down the bus. Someone has been waiting for the old man since morning.
A young couple waved at him with a smile. The old man approaches the couple, Gibson follows him.
"Hello Mr. McCoogan. Is so nice to see you". say the woman, hug the old man.
The old man turns to Gibson. "Son, this is Jennifer and her brother, Rowan. I adopted them after I'd just got out of prison. I raised them like my own children. Jennifer and Rowan own a shop in town. This is Mr. Gibson".
"Hello. Did he bother you Mr. Gibson?"
"Not at all. Is nice to meet new people".
The woman smiled. "We own a fishing store. If you need anything just walk in. I hear there's big fish coming all the way here. If you got lucky to have it".
"Thank you. Well, it is nice to see you three. Family. Nice to meet you, Mr. McCoogan. I hope we'll see each other again".
Moments later. As the family left. Gibson found a seat waiting for someone he had called before coming to Alaska. He got a new job at the Harbor after quitting his job as the gardener at school.
He looked at the time. 2.15pm. Lucky he went for lunch first or he would starve to death.
"Victor Gibson?" He looked up at the middle-aged man, almost like his age. "Gibson right? Barry. You called me from New York and I hired you".
"Oh, Mr. Barry. I Am. Pleasure to meet you".
Both men shake hands. "Come along. We talk on the road". He walked. "I see you met Mr. McCoogan". as they walk to the truck. "Did he tell you about his life?"
"He did. He was on the bus with me".
"I can't believe you travel here by bus. Most of them get an airplane to come here". Barry starts the engine.
"I'm a free man, sir. I like to see the view".
"Called me, Barry. I know. Men like you love to travel. Got a family?"
Gibson smiled. "Ex-wife and twins".
"Sorry to hear that". Barry drove his truck.
Both men talked until an hour later, the truck left downtown.
"See the view behind you, that Anchorage downtown. Take two hour to arrive in Seward, take a rest if you want, mate. I'll wake you up when we arrive".
"Thank you".
Later that evening. Gibson jolted from his sleep as he dreamed about Belle. A dream that she will never forgive him. The weather is too cold to handle. He wrapped himself then turned to Barry.
"I was about to wake you up, mate. Welcome to Seward, Alaska". Gibson saw a huge signboard on top of the view with the word..
SEWARD
HOME OF THE ALASKA
WELCOMES YOU
His mouth hangs open. "Alaska is a beautiful place people can visit, knowing the culture. I don't know why I chose Alaska in the first place".
"Because it is beautiful". Barry laughs. "Me and my wife have been here like forever. We never moved. No children. My wife can't have a child. I don't care.. I love her very much".
Barry stops at the red light. "Hiya, Mrs Brown. How's it going?"
"Janet got pregnant". Barry blinks. "Her parents chased her out the house this morning".
Barry nods. "No wonder I saw her carrying her bag this morning. Thought she went to sleepover at Parrish's house".
"Don't know where she goes".
"Hope she's fine, Mrs Brown. See ya later". Barry hits the gas, as the light turns green. "That Mrs Brown. Her husband just died six month ago. She drove her husband's car and went towards her husband's favorite restaurant. Everyday".
Gibson smiled a bit. He felt what Mrs Brown had through her life alone. Losing someone you love is the painful thing to let go.
"It's almost night. We are going home. You should taste my wife's cooking. She loves to cook. Tomorrow we're going to Harbor, meet the rest of the team before you start working the next day. Is that okay for you, Gibson?"
"Not at all".
Barry nodded. "Alright. Welcome again".
The truck enters the countryside, the houses are beautiful. There's a mountain surrounding the place, beautiful... such a beautiful place to release your tension, a place that you could relax with an open mind.
Gibson pushes the window button, inhaling the air of Alaska. He had hoped he would bring Belle and the twins visit here. And do something fun as a happy family. But it will never happen. Nothing is possible.
Half an hour later. Barry parks his truck, both men climb down. "Home sweet home".
"After dinner can you send me back to town. I don't have a home yet, I need a place to stay, so.. I chose a cheap motel I saw earlier back there. I bet there's plenty of room for me".
Barry chuckles, saying. "You want to rent a room? Like how long, until you get your salary?"
"Maybe".
"It took years to find a perfect house. I'll tell you what, why don't you stay at my brother's house, it is not far from here".
"Oh no. It's not necessary, Barry. I can manage on my own".
"Nonsense! Eat first then we talk and I decide where you should sleep".