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There were two lines on the counter, the place was full of rainbow lights changing colours. Everybody was under the influence of something and so was Michael.
The young man snorted a line of coke with a ten dollar bill and then another one and lastly a third one. He cocked his head up in the air and then back. Mike drank his shot of vodka in a second and lit up a joint. He left the counter and went to the bathroom.
“Yoo, it’s Mike The Crackhead!” A young lady with black hair, around Michaels age said and gave Michael a spoon and a bag of heroine.
“Oh shut up!” He nudged her shoulder jokingly and laughed at her remark.
Michael entered a bathroom cabin and sat on the floor. He already smoked half of his joint. Michael took his belt off and tightened it around the bottom of his biceps. He dropped the powder from the bag on the spoon and lit up a lighter under it. Once it melted, a syringe took in the liquid and Michael pumped it into his veins.
The girl from before walked in and took the joint from Mikes mouth.
“Yoo Mike, dude, you’re done.” She looked at him worried.
“Oh piss off.” He leaned his head against the bathroom stall.
“No, dude, seriously, you need to stop, like now.” She walked out and left the tall man on the ground to think to himself.
Michael slowly got up, everything was spinning, his hands on the stall and walls for support.
It was autumn, the air was refreshing, the weather was cold and it was early in the morning, around 7 AM. William put the key in and started the car. He didn’t need to search for his eldest, and now, only son, because he knew exactly where the boy was.
The broken, moulded and stained wood door opened to reveal a room full of heroin addicts, and then there was he, Michael Afton.
It was a place known for having addicts stay in it. There was no electricity but at least they had a roof over their heads.
Half of Mikes body was on the floor and the other half was on a moulded, dirty, old mattress. He was wearing a black leather jacket and his infamous, purple t-shirt and blue jeans outfit with black boots, the outfit he wore last night when he got completely wasted. He was lying on his stomach and for now only the back of his hands were visible, but it was obvious he was very pale.
William gulped and felt his stomach turn, and then it hit him. In his head, he got a image of 9 year old Michael showing him a drawing of him, Mike, Elizabeth and pregnant Clara saying “Look daddy, look! It’s us! The happiest family ever! We’re gonna be even happier when Evan is born.”
He could feel his throat collapse. What used to be a happy family of five was now a family of two. A junkie and an alcoholic. William walked up to Mike and kneeled next to him. He grabbed Michael under the armpits and pulled him up. The sight left him speechless, but in the end, not so surprised.
Michael was extremely pale, snow pale and he literally looked like a corpse.
Michael popped his head up and saw his father. The first thing to mind would usually be ‘Oh shit, I’m grounded’ but no, in fact, Michael smiled at William, his eyes barely open.
“Father?” Mikes eyes close, he couldn’t see, only hear and speak.
“I’m here son.”
William stood next to Mike and wrapped his arm around his son’s back. The young man wrapped his arm around his father’s neck and William grabbed Mikes hand.
They slowly walked out the house and William threw Michael in the back seat, then drove home.
“I’m so sorry dad.” William laid Michael down on the couch, he was lying on his back.
“It’s okay, It’s alright.” William put his hand on Mikes forehead and looked at him in disappointment and a little pity.
William was standing over Michael, he then left to the bathroom to get a bucket and a towel. He turned on the sink and wet the towel with ice cold water. He then squeezed the towel and left the bathroom, bucket in one hand and towel in the other one.
He put the towel on his son’s forehead and placed the bucket next to the couch, where Mikes head was.
“Dad, I’m so sorry, I failed you.” He bit his lower lip, it was as dry as the Sahara desert.
“I know you did. You’re just like your late mother.”
“She disappointed you too?”
“No, your mother could never disappoint me, but she was also an addict.”
“I-“ Michaels sentence was interrupted by vomit.
Mike started to throw up while laying on his back, William was kneeling down next to the bucket and his body filled up with fear. Yes, yes Michael disappointed him and yes he blamed Michael for the death of the love of his life but he couldn’t lose another child, another family member, the only family member he has left, or could he? Not even he knew.
William pressed the towel to Mikes forehead and turned his head so the vomit can go into the bucket.
“Do you love me?” Mike barely opened his eyes.
“I don’t know. Now let’s take that jacket off.” He helped Michael take it off and put it on the coat hanger. The tall man sat at the edge of the bed, where his sons feet were, while the other one was still lying down, holding on for dear life.
William looked at Michaels arms, they looked awful, but after all, he wasn’t much better, remnant to William was like heroine to Michael.
“You asked me if I loved you.” William looked down to the side.
“Yeah?”
“I don’t know. I really don’t… I care, in some way, I still care for you but… I’m furious with you. You make me angry, mad, ballistic, but I care. Do I love you? I have no idea.” Michaels eyes opened and he sat up, the towel fell in his lap.
“Father-“
“You’re a mess, a disgrace.” Michael teared up.
“You- you don’t mean that-“
“I don’t. I don’t know anymore.” Michael touched Williams shoulder.
The problem was, William was very bipolar at times and he himself sometimes didn’t know what he wanted or what he thought. Will and Mike used to have a great relationship back when Mike was a little boy, but as he got older and hit puberty, they started arguing, but the old relationship they used to have will never be forgotten, by neither of them.
William looked at Mikes hand then back at him. Michael had eyes like Lapis Lazuli, unlike his father who had sky blue eyes.
Michael started crying and hugged William. He didn’t know what he wanted either at this point.
“You have seven days.” Williams tone had no emotion to it at all.
“W-What…?” He let go of his father and wiped his eyes with the bottom of his palms.
“You have seven days to get your shit together.”
“And what if I don’t?” William looked at him dead serious.
“I’m taking you to the rehab center.” Michael froze on the spot.
“Dad- father please, don’t do this to me.” His hands were in a begging position.
“I won’t as long as you do as I said.”
“I- I need more time-“
“Michael. I’m not repeating myself.” He got up and grabbed his coat from the coat hanger, putting it on.
“Dad please! Don’t do this!” William ignored Michaels begging and opened the door.
“Seven days.” Michael got on the floor, on his knees and in a praying position.
“Please dad, PLEASE!” William sighed deeply and left for work, closing the door.
“FUCK YOU WILLIAM! FUCK YOU, YOU OLD FUCK! Dad please! I love you even if you don’t love me! Please dad!” Michael cried and his head dropped, tears rolling down his cheeks and onto the floor.