I spend an entire day with Kieran but in the end I still end up leaving back to the new home I've established with Min. I never imagined what life would be like if Kieran was still alive. My mind begins to race as the sadness of Kieran's death and having him still alive fight as well as my love and guilt consume me.
I cry myself to sleep as quietly as possible, hoping for Min to never know the pain that I've caused but knowing if I don't tell him I'll hate myself. In the end my decision boils down to telling Min the absolute need to know, Min deserves to know the truth, I separated from his father before I found out about him. Explaining why I kept them separated would be a bridge to cross later, owing up to my mistakes was heavy especially since I knew it was my fault even if Hiero and Min don't blame me I'll feel the weight of my decisions.
A thought creeps into my mind sending shivers down my spine. What if he died? What if I just buried my sprout of interest? A slew of blurry faces spins in my mind, Min, Hiero, Anise, and my own. What if this is the dream? What if everything that I'm fighting for here, I'm actually unable to obtain in my real life because I'm stuck here dreaming about what I want while not actually chasing it? Why is there so much pain in my dreams?
My thought explode and spiral causing me deep unease. I run to Min's side and cradle his hand against my cheek. I never want to lose him nor do I want to hurt Hiero. I think of the future without Hiero and shudder and when I think of the future with Hiero I know I must attribute more effort.
Trying to settle my nerves I begin to write letters to Min, I write all kinds of truths about things I've done. I make it a point to write that I don't seek his forgiveness, only his understanding. I feel evil writing the way I do because I truly hope he'll learn to forgive me over the years.
I fall asleep amongst the pile of papers and dream of my time when I first worked at Levitt's. I met really cool people like Tadashi and Meline. They helped me to survive in Levitt's and we became fast friends. I stand idly watching the wind tussle the trees and the clouds crawl through the sky casting an ever moving shadow on the hills and mountains from my view of my desk.
"Dratted kid! always day dreaming!" an unknown old man crows at me. "Why are you standing around like this!?!? I need help now! MOVE!" The man yells raising his cane as though to strike me and I face him waiting for him to make the mistake of even swinging the cane in my direction.
As I watch the old man drag his cane through the air towards me I reach out to catch the cane before it strikes me, but as I grasp empty air I see Hiero stands with the cane now in his hands, leaving the old man confused and even more angry.
"Didn't your parents ever teach you to respect your elders!!?! Who are you to interfere with me trying to teach this arrogant child a lesson?!!?!" The old man yells at Hiero and jabs his crooked index finger at Hiero then at me. The man repulses me and I open my mouth to begin defending myself and Hiero. The old man now has all his anger directed towards Hiero. He starts walking towards Hiero with violent energy.
Hiero puts up his hand up telling me to not speak and Hiero's voice takes over the area we're in. "Sir, I am the manager. If you ever try to hurt a member of my staff I will not be the only one you'll have to answer to," Hiero says evenly and the old man throws up his hands reaching across towards Hiero, I slide between them facing Hiero and blocking the old man's slap with my back.
Having blocked the slap I gently push Kieran and when I return to take a few more paces I tug on the corner of Kieran's sleeve to have him step further out of the old man's range. "I can press charges against you for attempted aggravated assault as well as ban you from this store. The security cameras here send the feed to the cloud for lifetime storage, the security video will tell the story for me and my employee," Hiero says pointing up to the periodic domes that hang down from the ceiling.
Having taken a hit for Kieran I try to play off the hit but I can feel my sensitive skin is straining and most likely going to bruise. I apologize to Kieran for getting him involved in such an altercation and he says "it's alright, it's my job," Kieran tells me. I shrug regretting my motion as the place were the hit connected complains I wince and tell myself to remember this is Kieran I'm talking to.
I walk back to the desk where the fellow co workers all stare in awe struck that their boss and their boss's boss both fought off such an unruly customer. After assuring my team that I'm okay I snuck away to see the damage for myself. Having caught the hit to my back I close my small office and lock the door and close the blinds. I pull my shirt up off my shoulder and see that my skin has splotches into a red, yellow, blue, and, purple line of bruising. It extended across my back in weird angle most concentrated on my right side. While I'm contemplating the best self treatment Kieran walks into my office.
In shock and astonishment I stare at Kieran who has stuff for bruise treatment in his hands. He stares at the line on my back and I drop my shirt. I blush because I've never been in such an awkward situation. I brush myself off, regain my composure before I approach Kieran.
"I locked my door." I say to the room not talking directly to Kieran. He stares at me with a storm of emotions brewing in his eyes and I break eye contact with him feeling the lecture he has planned for me. As I suspect Kieran closes the door and I assume it's so he can begin his lecture.
"Why did you block that hit? Why did you get yourself hurt?! And When you felt pain why didn't you say anything!?" Kieran fiercely asks me.