From the Future to the Past
Ghent had been watching Ada for a little while. They had fallen asleep together earlier in the day. Ghent managed to get some rest, but he'd been plagued by nightmares the majority of the time he had been sleeping. He reached out to touch Ada on the cheek and then got out of the bed. Ghent felt as though he was walking through a fog. Everything was hazy. He dressed himself automatically, even laced his boots. His mind was lost in the past. A past not easily forgotten.
For as long as Ghent remembered his father, Jerald, and he had never gotten along. In his early years, Ghent was struck alot. As he got older, Jerald turned to words when he wanted to belittle his only son. Ghent was an oddity and it annoyed Jerald to no end. Ghent preferred quiet studying and playing games that required alot of thought. That wasn't to say that Ghent was lazy. Far from it, actually. He was good at many of the sports he tried, but never commited to continuing with any of them during school. He could have chosen to been popular. He was fairly handsome, bright, even kind to almost anyone. Despite all that, he had very little interest in his peers. Most were too immature in his opinion. Because of these decisions Ghent really had no friends. It didn't bother him much.
Ghent spent many of his days alone. In the warm seasons he would walk around and explore. He loved to see new places, as his imagination was allowed to run rampant. He'd make a fort and play "army". He didn't know that would become a career, however short-lived.
Days of happiness would be spoiled many times when he got home. Jerald would be drunk on the couch, screaming at the entire family. Ghent got to the point that he ignored the man. Jerald's words ceased to affect Ghent about the time he became a teenager. It made things harder on his sisters. Ghent would simply leave when Jerald started his pity fest and it would make the older man angry. He took it out on everyone else.
When Ghent turned fifteen, he had already graduated from high school. He was considering attending a university but never got around to it. The army offered him a way to leave his "home" behind. He took the opportunity and never once looked back. He felt guilty about leaving Emma and Lily behind sometimes, but he always wrote to them. His sisters were all he ever really had.
And it was now that Jerald returned to Ghent's life, apparently wanting to make amends for past sins. Despite his tough response, part of Ghent wanted to reach out to his father. To hope that the man wanted to really change. Every boy looked up to their father, even Ghent, though he was never really given a reason to. He learned also that Jerald held the rank of General. It pissed Ghent off. A lot. His right hand clenched reflexively at the thought.
Ghent didn't know what to do. He just wanted a quiet life. One he could share with Ada. He didn't think it was too much to ask for.
Ghent had been watching Ada for a little while. They had fallen asleep together earlier in the day. Ghent managed to get some rest, but he'd been plagued by nightmares the majority of the time he had been sleeping. He reached out to touch Ada on the cheek and then got out of the bed. Ghent felt as though he was walking through a fog. Everything was hazy. He dressed himself automatically, even laced his boots. His mind was lost in the past. A past not easily forgotten.
For as long as Ghent remembered his father, Jerald, and he had never gotten along. In his early years, Ghent was struck alot. As he got older, Jerald turned to words when he wanted to belittle his only son. Ghent was an oddity and it annoyed Jerald to no end. Ghent preferred quiet studying and playing games that required alot of thought. That wasn't to say that Ghent was lazy. Far from it, actually. He was good at many of the sports he tried, but never commited to continuing with any of them during school. He could have chosen to been popular. He was fairly handsome, bright, even kind to almost anyone. Despite all that, he had very little interest in his peers. Most were too immature in his opinion. Because of these decisions Ghent really had no friends. It didn't bother him much.
Ghent spent many of his days alone. In the warm seasons he would walk around and explore. He loved to see new places, as his imagination was allowed to run rampant. He'd make a fort and play "army". He didn't know that would become a career, however short-lived.
Days of happiness would be spoiled many times when he got home. Jerald would be drunk on the couch, screaming at the entire family. Ghent got to the point that he ignored the man. Jerald's words ceased to affect Ghent about the time he became a teenager. It made things harder on his sisters. Ghent would simply leave when Jerald started his pity fest and it would make the older man angry. He took it out on everyone else.
When Ghent turned fifteen, he had already graduated from high school. He was considering attending a university but never got around to it. The army offered him a way to leave his "home" behind. He took the opportunity and never once looked back. He felt guilty about leaving Emma and Lily behind sometimes, but he always wrote to them. His sisters were all he ever really had.
And it was now that Jerald returned to Ghent's life, apparently wanting to make amends for past sins. Despite his tough response, part of Ghent wanted to reach out to his father. To hope that the man wanted to really change. Every boy looked up to their father, even Ghent, though he was never really given a reason to. He learned also that Jerald held the rank of General. It pissed Ghent off. A lot. His right hand clenched reflexively at the thought.
Ghent didn't know what to do. He just wanted a quiet life. One he could share with Ada. He didn't think it was too much to ask for.