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Tuesday
Dad told me to fuck off before he died, and I've burnt his grave.
Mom hates me, and last time I saw Rodrick he punched me.
Greg committed suicide, it was usually him who wrote all those "journals", and I've always snuck out to read them. Sure it made me look like an asshole, but how do you establish a relationship with brother who despises you.
When I did things he hates me for I was a TODDLER, I've changed, but how do I say that to a dead man?
How do you talk when people avoid you? The only time they spoke to me was when they wanted to tell me they didn’t want to see me ever again.
This is fucked up, I'll try to talk, life’s too short for being mad at each other.
Wednesday
Image 1
*Manny at porch and doors are opened by Susan*
Manny - "Let me talk”
Susan - "Get out!"
Image 2
*Door is shut, while Manny stands there*
Manny – “I'm sorry I wasn’t there. I wanted to be someone so that you could be proud of me. I did all that so you could say without pity in your eyes, that me, Manny Hefley am your son."
Centered text clean live one line above and below
Susan - "This doesn’t mean anything, now."
It didn’t go well. But it can't be over, it's not, it never is. How do you speak to someone who screams at you?
Thursday
I went to Rodrick and his family. He wasn’t there, his wife was. She was more open to dialogue.
Turns out she's an executive producer for some local rock label. I asked about Rodrick, and how can I get him back as a brother, but…
Image 3
*Rodrick’s wife and Manny are sitting by the table*
Wife – "He's still feeling strong emotions"
This doesn’t sound too good for me. Regardless I asked if I could talk to him, but she told me to wait another month or so, and then write to her.
Well, this is one step forward.
Friday
I'm in Boston, trying to talk to Rowley. trying is an important distinction. He's still in mourning. When his assistant announced Manny HEFFLY has arrived, he broke down in tears.
I think I should have waited, but here I am.
Image 4
*They’re in an office, both sitting down*
Rowley – "I just haven’t seen him for so long, and then he comes, and... You just don't do shit like this"
I don't see what connected Greg and Rowley, but I guess this is why they call it love. I don't think Greg had to go this way, for some reason, I feel he was struggling for a long time before everything.
Like Dad and Rowley were just a trigger to something that was in him from the very beginning, or at least very early on.
If I had talked to him earlier, maybe I would have noticed something earlier and paid for his therapy.
I think we all were silently in pain all that time, even in our childhood. Like someone wanted us to be mad, then depressed going from one extreme to another for the sake of some sick story to tell.
I don’t think this life belonged to any of us, who lived it.
Sunday
I'm back for some reason I drove back to Mom, and I tried to talk, again.
Image 5
*Manny is standing outside Susan’s house*
Manny - "Can’t we talk like adults? I can help with everything we ever lacked. We don’t have to scream at each other anymore, we're rich!"
*cops arrive – implied by sound*
She called cops on me.
Monday
I went to the grave I've burnt and rebuilt it, now bigger. I owe it to him after leaving.
I thought of doing what Greg did, but on this grave, but there's already enough pain in all of us. And there still is the dim light of hope.
Image 6
*Dad's ornamented grave, with flowers*
Monday
it's been a month, and Rodrick’s wife said I could come for a dinner.
Image 7
*Manny arrives and is greeted with a punch*
Image 8
*Rodrick says to Manny who’s on the ground*
Rodrick – "Don’t show your face here"
Image 9
*shut door, and scream of the Wife *
Wife - "How could you do that!?"
Centered text clean live one line above and below
"He's no longer my brother"
I thought of going to Mom again, but with a bruised face, she not going to react any better to me, at this rate she might get a restraining order.
I don’t think I should be here, I tried.
Tuesday
When you leave them they punishment they give you is that you cannot come back. I've lost a family. I'll write a letter to Mom and then I'll go back.
Text in a letter image form
"Susan, I'm sorry for everything I ever caused you. I want you to know what I did was for you to be proud of me. I saw that all our family problems came from lack of money, and I tried to find what we needed. But I was wrong.
What we needed was to stay together. I understand your anger, and I deeply regret every second I've lost and even more the bond between the family, and every second that we could have spent together. I hope in time you can forgive me.
This is my address, phone number current email. If you'll ever be ready to look at me, I'll be waiting for your call, at any time. If you don’t ever find it in you to forgive me I'll understand.
Manny Heffley"
Image 10
*Mom opens the door, as car drives away*