Chapter Text
The last thing Michael remembered about Santa Carla was the feeling of being free. He also remembered having to leave somebody, the only thing is he couldn’t remember who it was. He knew there was somebody but whenever he tried to picture somebody he couldn’t.
Michael had loved his home, he lived with his mom and grandpa and he never wanted that to change. One day his mom had met somebody. That somebody’s name was Eric, and Eric changed everything. Eric had moved into his house and once he got comfortable he thought that he could control everything that went down, and for a while he did, until Lucy showed him where he really stood in this family.
Two years after Eric had moved in a lot of things happened, one of those being Michael becoming an older brother.
Michael was four when Lucy sat him down to tell him the news
“Hey Mikey, I need to talk to you. Could you come sit down.” Lucy called from the living room
“Yea mom, I’ll be there in a second.” Mike called from the kitchen as he was heading to the living room to find out what his mom needed to tell him.
As Michael sat down he noticed Eric was standing in the corner of the room looking at his mom like she was an issue that he didn’t want. Michael had never particularly liked Eric, but he didn’t say anything because he didn’t want her to make him leave, but he also didn’t want him to stay. Over the time Eric had lived with them he noticed his mom getting more paranoid about things, like when he would touch her shoulder she would flinch away from his hand, he liked to think that it was just because he scared her and not because of anything Eric might have done to her.
“So, Mike, I know you need someone to hang out with, so I have some really good news for you.”
Michael practically jumped out of his seat and screamed, “YOU FOUND ME SOMEONE TO HANG OUT WITH.”
“Well, he won't be here until sometime next year,” Lucy said, trying to calm Michael down.
“So what’s his name?” Mike asks eagerly.
Lucy looked at him and answered fondly “His name is Sam. I can’t wait for you to meet him.”
“So, where’s he from?” Michael asks Lucy
Lucy looks at him for almost a minute before she bursts out laughing, Mike looks at her with the most prominent look of confusion before he asks, “What’s so funny.”
“Michael, baby.”
“Yeah mom?” Michael asks with a look of genuine confusion on his face
“I’m not talking about someone who lives far away.” Lucy Explains.
“What are you-OH oh are you talking about a baby?” Asks Michael basically whispering the last part.
Lucy looks at him and lets out a small laugh and says, “Yes honey, I am talking about a baby. Are you excited? You’re gonna be a big brother!”
Michael’s eyes widen as he looks around the room to find his grandpa, “Really?” he asks softly.
“Yeah baby, you’re gonna be an older brother.” Once Lucy says it, Michael feels someone staring at him, he looks towards the doorway that leads to his room and sees Eric motioning for him to come over. Michael stands up and starts walking towards Eric, he looks back at Lucy and he notices she looks scared. He looks back at Eric and sees that he’s holding something in his hand, he doesn’t want to think anything bad might happen so he just keeps walking until he notices Eric is leading him to his own bedroom.
Once Michael and Eric reached his room Michael noticed what he was holding but not before it was too late. The belt struck him in the face, “You better start listening to me young man, you need to set a good example for your brother. Whenever you disobey me this is going to happen, do you understand?” Michael keeps looking down on the ground as Eric shouts “I SAID DO YOU UNDERSTAND.”
“Yes.” Michael says his voice shaky
“Yes, what?” Eric ask him, the belt ready to teach Michael a lesson
Michael looks up at him and says as loud as he is able to, “Yes, sir.”
“Thats better.” Eric says while looking all high and mighty. He looks back down at Michael and notices he’s looking at him. “Don’t look me in the eyes, little boy. Just know that I am not here to be your father, I am here to be Samuel's father and to be with your mother.” Michael is crying and laying on the floor when the belt collides with his back. “Look at me when I am talking, young man. Don’t you ever disrespect me like that ever again.”
“I’m Sorry!” Michael Cries out as the belt comes down onto his body
“DON’T YOU YELL AT ME.” He brings the belt back down on his body. Michael lets out an ear piercing scream. Lucy barges through the door and yells “ERIC, STOP.” Michael looks up at his mom standing in the doorway, “Mom, please.” Michael begs.
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Eric had made many promises to Michael in those years, he had said he wouldn’t hurt him unless he acted out, he had said that things would be different once Sam was born, and he had promised that he would never hurt anyone else. Michael soon realized that Eric didn’t keep his promises. The first time he broke one was when he came home drunk after being out with his friends.
Michael was 5 years old when the first promise was broken. It was the night of his 5th birthday, him and his mom had gone out to the boardwalk to go celebrate. They had been in the arcade for most of the time they were out, after a while they went to go get funnel cake. After they had finished with their outing they had started to head back to the house.
“Hey mom, do you think Eric’s going to be mad at us for leaving without telling him?” Michael asked
Lucy looked at Michael and said in a quiet voice, “I don’t know baby.”
“I really hope he isn’t.” Michael looks at his mom and hesitates before saying “He really scares me, mom.”
Lucy glances down at Michael and doesn’t say anything. Michael knew that even if he told his mom everything he would still be staying around. After what felt like the longest car ride of his life once they had reached the house they saw Eric standing on the porch.
Michael was terrified of what was going to happen once they went inside the house. As he made it to the porch he noticed Eric had something Michael recognized very well in his hand. He tried to walk past him but Eric caught his arm before he could get inside, “I hope you don’t think you’re getting out of this.” Eric said as he looked at Michael with a face of pure disgust as he started walking into the house with Michael following after him. The next few moments were a blur of screaming, the sound of a belt whipping something, and the silence of his mom who didn’t care to intervene. He knew that she could hear him screaming and begging Eric to stop, but Michael knew that she didn’t care about him, she only cared about Eric and Sam. Sam wasn’t even born yet and she still cared about him more than Michael. He didn’t care about how the one person who was always supposed to be there for him left him when he needed her, but he didn’t care. He never would again.
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The last time Eric had broken one of his promises was in the summer of 1974.
It was Michael’s sixth birthday and there was a problem, he didn’t know what to do for his party. He had thought about maybe going to the arcade like he did last year but he also had to think about a place that Sam could have fun too. Michael liked having Sam around, he had always wanted someone to be with him, but he wanted real friends. He wanted someone who could go to the arcade with and watch really stupid movies with, and tonight was the night he would find that person. After hours of thinking he had decided to celebrate on the boardwalk.
The boardwalk smelled like rotting fish. Michael looked to his left and saw a sushi bar and understood why. He never understood why people would sell fish, or any kind of meat on the boardwalk. It always spoils. Don’t they know it's gonna be gross if they keep it out here all day. They don’t even have coolers to try to keep it cold. He broke out of his thoughts when he felt a large shove from behind him. The color of the person's hair was the first thing he noticed. It was his bleached blond hair. It was the brightest blond hair Michael had ever seen. He was mesmerized, The person standing in front of him. “I apologize, my son can’t watch where he’s walking.” The tall woman next to him said. “Mom, I can apologize, myself.” The little boy turns to Michael. “My name is David, and I am really sorry for running into you.”
That day was the day Michael realized that you never meet people by accident. That everything in life happens for a reason. What the reason was he didn’t know, but what he did know was that when he met David on the boardwalk he would never forget him. At least that's what he thought. -