Topic: Of Birthdays Past and Present

Imrathion Tathar

Date: 2007-08-04 19:54 EST
August 4, present

?What'll it be?? The bartender looked Glenn over with disinterest clearly plastered on his fleshy face as he dried a mug with a white dishtowel. What'll it be, indeed, Glenn thought. Get drunk fast, or slow? Both had their advantages and disadvantages. He had only gotten drunk on liquor a few times, and all those instances occurred during a week-long bender in which he had been...out of sorts. But what he remembered from those isolated (and memory-blurred) instances was the way the warmth and drunkenness of the whiskey seemed to hit his body all at once, like a tsunami. It had swept away all thoughts in his head, except for the evening's mantra: I am so wasted right now. But the wave crested too soon: get too drunk too fast and you couldn't get served anymore, and if they weren't serving you, they didn't want you at the bar. And tonight, on his 22rd birthday, Glenn had nowhere else he really wanted to go.

?I'll have an ale, please,? Glenn said, smiling faintly at the squat bartender. He was seated at the end of the bar, away from the regulars at The Rusty Nail, one of the more tolerable dives in the West End. Perhaps that was why he hadn't seen any of his co-workers. Not that he was looking for them, of course. He wasn't really looking for anybody to congratulate him or celebrate with him. Or commiserate, even. There was a reason he had kept his plans hidden. Glenn was drinking ale tonight because he wanted to spend his birthday slowly getting drunk and thinking about the past. He wanted to feel the drunkenness lap up on the shores of his mind like the tide, burying his brain gradually. He wanted to walk through the garden of his memories in a pleasant haze, a slowness of thought that would ensure he lingered on every detail. He would inhale the roses' perfume deeply, then reach out and grasp the thorny stems. He would not let go, even as his hand cried out in pain and blood dripped slowly to the ground.

He felt bad for a second for not inviting anyone out, but who could he invite out? His friends back home weren't here, and besides, he hadn't really seen them all that much in the last year or so he was in Blackbridge. He was still in the process of making friends here; he wouldn't let them see him like this, not yet. His co-workers wouldn't understand. His family, his parents? A shake of the head. Don't think about that. Why would they have come out in the first place? Even if they could've, they wouldn't have. Who wants to drink with their son, their nephew, their cousin? No, it was a ridiculous thought, for numerous reasons. Yes, it was best to be alone when thinking about the past. Drunk lips were loose lips, but they wouldn't spill secrets if he was by himself.

The bartender set the drink in front of Glenn without a word, and he paid and tipped the man silently as well. He cupped his hands around the mug and closed his eyes, enjoying the chill sensation on his palms. Slowly, his eyes fluttered open, revealing the dingy bar, the obese bartender, and the motley group of longshoremen, sailors, and (no doubt) brigands that comprised the bars' patrons. He then hefted the mug up high with his right hand and tilted it a little, toasting an imaginary person.

?Happy birthday to me, eh?? He chuckled softly under his breath, shaking his head. ?Anyways...here's to you...? he whispered hoarsely, before he brought the mug to his lips and swigged. ?Gods bless you.?

Imrathion Tathar

Date: 2007-08-08 20:26 EST
August 7, 19 years ago

"There will be time, there will be time
To prepare a face to meet the faces that you meet."

(Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, T.S. Eliot)

?Momma, where's Poppa?? Glenn said, setting down his toy wooden carriage and looking up at his mother, who was sitting next to him. He itched a pointy ear absentmindedly. His mother smoothed out wrinkles in her simple brown dress, then tucked a loose strand of dark brown hair behind her own ear, as round on top as Glenn's was pointed.

?Over there,?she said, pointing north across the clearing to the largest wooden structure in the vicinity. The two of them were sitting at the southern edge of the clearing that comprised the area where most of the official business, feasts, and religious ceremonies for the elven village of Laur'Lotina. Around the edges of the clearing, there were mostly tall grasses and a handful of wooden buildings, used to house human dignitaries, a kitchen, the chief's meeting house, and a building that seemed like some sort of workshop. Except for the meeting house and workshop, these other buildings were in various states of disrepair. Most of the elves preferred to sleep in other places. They pitched tents near the center of the clearing, where much of the grass was missing and a fire pit had been constructed. They constructed lean-tos against the sides of the massive sequoias that encircled the clearing; many of these were close to the clearing, but some could be found on redwoods a mile or two in either direction. Weather permitting, many elves would chose to sleep in sleeping bags or bed rolls, next to the trees or, for those who were especially adventurous and not prone to moving around in their sleep, up in their branches. Glenn's family wasn't sleeping in any of these places. Although it was a two to three day trip by carriage to the village, they were planning on leaving by nightfall. The road that led into this forest did not lead to the village; it took someone with great skill (or a knowledge of what barely hidden trails to follow) to traipse through the forest and find this place. They would have to return to their carriage and tied-up horses soon, but not before Glenn's father finished his business.

?I'm bored,? Glenn whined, in a lilting, sing-songy voice. ?I wanna go home. I wanna play with my other presents.?

?Be patient,? his mother scolded. ?He'll be done soon.? And after a minute of fidgety waiting, Glenn saw his father ducking his head out of the meeting house, followed by a trio of much, much shorter elves. The men bowed to each other, then shook hands. Glenn waited until his father was about half-way across the clearly before he stood up and ran to him, hugging one of his thick legs. Glenn's mother followed close behind, a beaming smile on her face.

?Poppa!? Glenn shouted, still clinging tightly. ?Did you get my present??

?Yes, but you'll have to wait a second, and let go of my leg.? Glenn did, dropping to the ground with a playful shriek.

?How much was it?? his mother asked. She was a little bit taller than most women, but compared to Lyndley, Glenn's father, she was tiny. He towered over most men, and had a beefy, brawny build from shoulders to chest to legs. He wore denim overalls, which seemed to strain at the muscle. His hair was black and cut short, and was just now starting to show flecks of white. He affectionately rubbed Glenn's blonde hair with a meaty hand as he answered her question.

?Expensive, but not as much as we thought it would be. I drove a hard bargain. I'm sorry it took me so long, Aidyn.? She shrugged her shoulders, then smiled again, fixing her hazel eyes on her husband. Lyndley dropped to one knee, still towering over Glenn, and turned his attention to him. ?Would you like to see your present??

Glenn clapped his hands quickly. ?Yay!? Lyndley pulled out a wooden jewelry box and handed it to Glenn, who looked at him, puzzled. ?What is it??

?It's a surprise. Open it up.? Glenn struggled with the lid a little bit, but soon managed to open it. Inside was a necklace. The cord was covered with smooth, cylindrical pieces of wood, leaving the hemp used to fashion the cord barely visible. Attached to the cord were three pieces of jade, shaped like arrowheads. The two pieces on the left and right were larger than the piece in the center. Glenn looked at it and made a face like he had just drank sour milk.

?What is this? Necklaces are for girls.?

?Not all necklaces are,? Lyndley chided him gently. ?This one is very, very special. And I need you to do something for me.? Lyndley lowered himself further, so that he was face to face with his son. ?I need you to promise me that you will always, always wear this, no matter what anyone says.?

?Why, Poppa?? Glenn ran his fingers over the necklace. It certainly didn't seem all that interesting to him.

?It's a very powerful necklace. It...it protects you. From everyone out there that might try to hurt you.?

?Hurt me?? Glenn's light green eyes shined with surprise and worry. ?Why??

?I...I don't know, Glenn. Just trust me. If you wear this, nothing bad will happen to you. I promise.? Glenn looked at his father quizzically for a bit, then threw his arms around his father's neck, letting himself be picked up.

?I promise I'll wear it all the time. Can we go home now?? Lyndley and Aidyn both chuckled.

?Yes, Glenn, we can go home now,? she said. ?Do you have anything else to do, Lynn?? He shook his head no. ?Then let's go home.? This prompted a cheer from Glenn. Lyndley shifted Glenn so that he was sitting on his massive shoulders, and the two started walking towards the trail that would eventually lead them back to the road home.

Imrathion Tathar

Date: 2007-08-14 00:12 EST
August 4, 15 years ago

Lyndley kicked the door open with dramatic flair, cradling a furry, petrified, grey and white cat in his huge arms.

?Glenn, I got you another birthday present!? Lyndley bellowed, as if his entrance wasn't loud enough to get his family's attention. Glenn sprinted into the front room, followed close behind by Aidyn, who took a more leisurely pace into the room.

?Whadja get me, poppa?? Glenn said, practically hopping up and down. He was a little taller, his hair was a little longer (especially on the sides), and his eyes weren't quite as blue-green as they were when he was a toddler. The same sense of childish enthusiasm was still there though, as he clapped his hands joyously.

?I thought it would be nice if this family had a pet. Glenn, meet Cath'a'shee. Or Cath, for short.? Lyndley then turned to Aidyn, still beaming. His black hair was now ringed on the sides with white, but he still looked as strong and virile as ever. Aidyn, for her part, seemed to have barely aged at all; her hair was in a ponytail, but no grey or white had seeped into her dark brown locks. ?I found her hanging around the warehouse. I put out a water bowl and some scraps from my lunch, and she kept coming back. She's been living in my office for the last couple of weeks, and I figured 'Why not bring her home? There's a lot more space to roam around here.'? The Woodwrights' home wasn't large by any means. It was a simple apartment, with two bedrooms, a dining room, kitchen, front room, and a water closet. But for Lyndley and Aidyn, it was perfect. Before Glenn had arrived, they had used the second bedroom as a guest bedroom, usually for when one of Lyndley's brothers would come to visit. They lived close to the eastern gate of Blackbridge, and about six blocks from the furniture store/warehouse they owned in a sleepy little market district on the east side of the city. Their location was actually ideal to Lyndley, despite not being in the optimal market district near the center of the city, since it allowed Lyndley freedom to work on loud woodworking projects whenever he wanted to.

?It'll be nice to have a cat around here,? Aidyn agreed. ?I used to have one as a little girl. It'll be like old times.? She moved closer to Lyndley, and petted Cath's head gently. Lyndley felt the cat relax in his arms as her pale green eyes shut. Cath purred appreciatively at the attention.

?Can I pet the cat, momma?? Glenn looked to Aidyn, then Lyndley, for approval.

?Certainly,? she said. Lyndley walked over to the center of the room, where Glenn was. Glenn thrusted his hand out to touch Cath, but it hissed, swiped at Glenn, then desperately clawed at Lyndley's arms as it tried to escape. Surprised, Lyndley dropped the cat onto the hardwood floors, where it landed on its feet and made a beeline for Lyndley and Aidyn's room. Lyndley swore mildly under his breath. His forearms both had a line of cat-claw scratches dug into them, bleedly lightly.

?I'll go get you some bandages and a towel, darling,? Aidyn said, scurrying out of the room. Glenn just stood there, shocked and a little scared.

?Why doesn't the cat like me, poppa??

?I'm sure the cat likes you. It just needs some time to get to know you. Why don't you go see what it's doing under our bed??

?Really?? Glenn usually had to ask permission before he headed into their bedroom. ?Alright!? He ran into Lyndley and Aidyn's bedroom, going straight to their bed. He lifted up the patchwork quilted comforter, which was draped over the side of the bed, and looked underneath. Cath was against the back wall, her back arched and her tail upright. Glenn ignored this, crawling under the bed.

?Hey Cath,? he said gently, slowly extending his hand to pet her head. Cath hissed and swatted at his hand, claws unsheathed. When he brought his hand back closer to his body, he saw a thin line of blood curved around the knuckle of his ring finger. He sniffled a bit, than ran out of the room.

?Momms, momma! Cath sc-scratched me!? He ran back into the living room, blubbering a little bit, but not shedding any tears. Aidyn had just finished treating Lyndley's wounds, so she quickly took Glenn's hand and examined it.

?That's a nasty scratch you've got there. Would you like me to kiss it?? Glenn nodded, a single tear finally rolling down one of his cheeks. It felt like there was a giant lump in his throat, preventing him from talking. Aidyn took one of the clean corners of the towel she had been using on Lyndley, blotting the blood and cleaning the scratch, before she lightly kissed his ring finger. Glenn sniffled a bit, but still said nothing. His dad was wrong. He must be wrong. That cat hated him, wanted nothing to do with him. Why did the cat hate him? Why was his dad wrong? When his mother was done treating him, Glenn slowly walked to his room, shut the door, and buried his face in a pillow, trying not to sob. After all, boys weren't supposed to cry. Especially human boys.

Imrathion Tathar

Date: 2007-08-21 21:23 EST
August 4, four years ago
Daytime

Glenn didn't even have to get up and look out into the main lobby of the store when he heard the bells ringing as the door opened. He knew, from the way they practically slammed against the door as they chimed, that the door had been opened very fast. And there was only one person he knew who opened the door fast. Haleigh. He listened to her murmur a hello to Thane, who was handling the floor currently, then heard the welcoming sound of riding boots clomping on the hardwood floor as she swiftly moved to the back room, the workshop where Glenn, his father, and occasionally his mother would make furniture. The large double doors to the work room were thrown open, and there stood Haleigh. She was carrying a brown bag with a loaf of bread sticking out of the top.

?Happy birthday, Glenn!? she said enthusiastically, bringing a smile to his face. She was diminutive; Glenn, now nearly fully grown, was much taller than her, something that he rarely ran into with most women he met. He was especially glad to see that she had her coppery brown hair out of the buns and ponytails she usually wore it in. Her hair fell just to her shoulders, in straight waves. Haleigh's most startling feature, to Glenn at least, was her eyes: they were dark blue, with what he swore was a hint of purple mixed in. They reminded him of the ocean at night, and he felt like he could drown in them if he stared into them too long. She set the bag down on an unused corner of his workbench, walked around the side, and hugged him from behind. Her hair smelled like sandalwood, clean and fresh, and he breathed in the scent deeply as she kissed the side of his head. He turned his head slightly, and Haleigh kissed him again, on the lips, tenderly but briefly. Even so, and even though he was alone in the work room, he felt his face blush and his stomach pulse with nervous energy. A knowing look from her, though, and Glenn felt the heat dissipate from his cheeks.

?I brought you lunch,? she said. ?Do you want to eat here, or outside??

?Outside,? Glenn replied, grinning. ?There really isn't any place we could eat in here, and besides, the weather's nice.? It was one of those summer days where everything pleasant about Blackbridge's weather came together all at once. It was temperate and not too humid, like most summer days, but most importantly (and much less commonly) it was sunny outside. Glenn cleaned off his workbench, grabbed the bag of food and walked through the front of the store and outside. They both waved to Thane as they left, and he dipped his head in acknowledgment.

?We're going down to the town square,? Glenn said, pausing at the half-opened door. ?We'll be back in an hour or so. Feel free to close the store and get some lunch, if it's not too busy.? Thane nodded again, and the couple left the store to walk west toward the center of town.

The town square was located a little south and east of the span that gave Blackbridge its name. The centerpiece of the square was the large marble fountain. It consisted of three tiered basins, that were smaller on top and wider towards the bottom. On the top of the third basin was a marble statue, of a human and an elf shaking hands. The human part of the statue was intact, but the elven part had been repeatedly vandalized. It was currently missing the tips of its ears, was chipped in other places, and had graffiti written on it in various places that no one had bothered to clean up. The square was paved with cobblestones and circled by benches. Glenn and Haleigh found an open bench, opened up the bag of food, and started making ham and cheese sandwiches.

?So what do you want to do for your birthday?? Haleigh asked, between bites of her sandwich. Glenn shrugged his shoulders.

?I don't know. Maybe go to the Rose and Thistle, see what everybody's up to??

?Come on,? she said, rolling her eyes as she scooted as close to Glenn as she could get with the foodstuffs between them. ?Don't you want to do something a little more...romantic?? She batted her eyelashes. Glenn was oblivious.

?What do you mean??

?A midnight ride...in the country side. Just you and me. And the horses.? Glenn gulped, then frowned.

?Horses? You know I don't like animals.?

?I know, I know, but they're horses!" she said, looking slightly insulted. "They're well-trained and they'd never hurt anybody. You know that.? Haleigh couldn't help but beam with pride, even as she exaggerated the truth. The horses wouldn't hurt almost anybody.

?I'm sorry, but there is no way you are getting me to ride a horse,? Glenn said, folding his arms.

Haleigh didn't respond at first while she ate her sandwich and formulated a plan. Finally, she gestured at Glenn to lean closer to her. Glenn obliged, and she whispered in his ear. Glenn blushed beet red, but still responded.

?Alright. I'll consider it.?

Imrathion Tathar

Date: 2007-08-27 21:33 EST
August 5, four years ago
Midnight

After lunch, and after Glenn had closed up the store for the day, he met Thane, Haleigh, and a group of their friends at their favorite inn and tavern, the Rose and Thistle. After dinner, drinks, and an exchange of gifts, Glenn and Haleigh left, hailing a carriage. It was late, and even though it wasn't too long of a trip to the farms and ranches that ringed the outskirts of the city, most carriages preferred not to leave the city walls at night. However, some extra silver changing hands made the passage to Haleigh?s stables, which were located close to the northeast portion of the city wall, possible.

?I got you something else,? Haleigh said over the clattering of wheels on cobblestones. She pulled a small, red velvet-covered box from a pocket and offered it to Glenn, who took it. He opened it and peered inside. The box contained a silver-colored ring, with two hands clasping a heart, topped by a crown. Glenn examined it for a second, confused at the design. ?It?s a claddagh ring. My pops bought a few of these, on another one of his purchasing trips.? Glenn nodded. Tristan, Haleigh's father, only bought the horses, land, stables, and farm house to give to Haleigh to run by herself (for the most part). His primary business was an import/export shop he ran in the heart of Blackbridge's primary market district. His shop's inventory spanned the multiverse, and Glenn's head had reeled when Haleigh rattled off the realms Tristan had sailed the seas and the Nexus to get to. He, unfortunately, was not familiar with whatever realm this item had come from.

?What's a claddagh??

?It's from a country called Ireland, from the Earth realm. Mostly. Pops said he's seen similar designs in other places.? She took the ring out of the box. ?It's supposed to be a symbol of friendship, loyalty, and love. You wear it on your right hand like this ? ? she put the ring on his right middle finger with the heart facing out ? ?if you are not in a relationship. You put it on like this ?? she took it off and rotated in onto his finger so the heart faced toward his body ??if you're in a serious relationship. The left hand is for engagements and marriages.? Haleigh took the ring off and put it in his left hand, giving him a look that seemed to say, What's it going to be? Glenn spun the ring around with his thumb in the palm of his hand briefly, before he took it and put it onto his right ring finger, the heart facing in toward his body. He waggled his eyebrows briefly, then impulsively leaned over and kissed Haleigh while she was laughing. Her eyes popped wide open in surprise, but she quickly closed them and matched his ardor. A few moments later, her eyes flickered open to look at Glenn. She recoiled, shocked. His face looked different! Oh, he was still recognizable as Glenn, but the facial structure was more feminine: the eyebrows weren't as thick, the nose was a bit smaller, the cheeks were slightly more rounded. And when Glenn opened his eyes again, surprised at how quickly she had pulled away from him, she noticed they seemed to be a much darker green than usual.

?What's wrong?? Glenn asked. He blinked, and then suddenly he looked like he did usually: thicker eyebrows, larger nose, hollower cheeks. His eyes shifted from dark green back to a paler hue between blinks. Haleigh blinked a couple of times herself, then shook her head vigorously.

?Nothing. You just looked weird in the moonlight.? Glenn nodded slowly, as the carriage suddenly came to a halt. They had arrived. Glenn got out of the carriage first, then offered his hand to Haleigh so that she could exit easier. He paid the driver, who accepted the money and quickly headed back towards the city. Haleigh opened the gate, then the two walked up the path to the farmhouse, taking the fork in the path on the right that led over to the stable. Glenn tensed up a little as they entered the building. The air was pungent with the smell of hay and manure, although not as bad as he'd expected.

?Most of these,? Haleigh said, gesturing to the individual stalls and the large horses within as they walked past them, ?are for carriages and pulling . They're trained not to startle easy.? Glenn saw the horses rustling and heard the occasional sniff from one or two of them, but nothing else. ?And these,? she said, gesturing to the last two stalls at the back of the building and the smaller horses within, ?are messenger horses, and the horses I usually ride. Well, usually I ride Star Dancer over here, but occasionally I also ride Kavita.? She adjusted her riding vest and helmet, then entered Star Dancer's stall. She quickly prepped the stallion for riding, brushing it, saddling it, and making sure it wasn't injured in any way. She then made her way to to Kavita's stable, beckoning Glenn to follow. Glenn stood outside the wooden enclosure but didn't enter, watching her prepare Kavita for riding. Haleigh picked up a bucket and showed it to Glenn. It was full of oats.

?Put some of those in your hand and feed her,? she said. He entered the stall, dug his hand into the bucket for some oats, and held it up for the horse to sniff. Kavita did so, then suddenly reared up, nostrils flaring. She neighed and kicked at the air in front of her.

?Glenn! Move!? Haleigh shouted at the petrified Glenn. He tried to back away from the mare, but he moved too fast and lost his footing. On his back, he saw the horse rear up again. As her hooves came down, he rolled to his right onto his stomach. He felt something clip his right side as he finished his roll and covered his head with his hands. All he could see was hay and the wooden outline of the stall in front of him. Behind him, Haleigh tried to calm the horse.

?Glenn, get out of here!? He didn't have to hear that twice. He crawled under the enclosure as fast as he could, sprung to his feet, and sprinted out of the stable. Once he was clear, he crouched and leaned against the building, panic and adrenaline still pulsing through his veins. He rubbed his shoulder; hopefully that was just a bruise, and not something worse. He couldn't even bring himself to look up when he heard the doors open and Haleigh step outside, sweaty and almost as exhausted looking as Glenn.

?That's...strange. Kavita never spooks like that,? she said, more to herself than Glenn. She then laid a hand on Glenn's shoulder. He winced, then looked up at her, blinking. ?Sorry. Are you alright??

?I'll be fine,? he said. Each time he blinked, she could see his eyes shifting back and forth from dark to lighter green. She didn't jump back, but her eyes narrowed. She couldn't tell if it was because he was stressed out, but she swore he looked different again.

?Are you sure? You look kind of gr- sick,? she said, her voice prodding him to respond, to explain himself. She wanted to blurt out "What's with your eyes?" but she restrained herself. Barely.

?I-animals don't like me. I thought I said that.? Haleigh folded her arms, and Glenn instantly knew that he had slipped up.

?No, you said that you don't like animals.? She sighed, then unfolded her arms and sat down next to him. Her tone was still blunt. ?Look, I like you. And I appreciate that whole vague, mysterious thing you go for. But you've got to open up sometime. I want to know everything about you.?

?Even the deep dark secrets??

?Especially those.? Glenn just shook his head at that.

?Haleigh, trust me, there are some secrets you shouldn't know.?

?Did you kill somebody or do something really bad?? Glenn shook his head no. ?Then you've got nothing to worry about.? Haleigh punched his bicep playfully. He didn't crack a smile, which caused her to frown. ?I know there's something you're not telling me. And I know you like to keep your distance from people. But the farther you push people away, the less likely they are to come back. No friends. No family. No me. Do you really want that?" And she quickly tacked on, "What will it take for you to trust me?? Glenn looked surprised. It wasn't something he had thought about much, nor been asked about. He pondered his response for a while before finally answering.

?To trust you? To trust anyone, really trust them, I would have to exchange secrets with them. And believe me, I have a good one to share.? He turned away from her, resting his chin on his hand. ?But not tonight. I'm tired and sore and I want to go home and sleep off what's left of my birthday.?

?You're not going to stay here? It's a long walk back to the city,? Haleigh said, arching her eyebrows.

?I know, but I've got a lot of thinking to do. Thinking I need to do by myself.? He stood up, then offered Haleigh a hand to stand as well. ?But the next time I see you, I promise to tell you my secret. Do you promise to tell me yours?? She nodded affirmatively. ?Good. Well, sweet dreams then.? Glenn kissed her goodnight.

?Sweet dreams, darling,? Haleigh said, winking, watching him blush bright red. She still loved drawing that reaction out of him; his propensity for blushing was one thing she knew for certain about him. She smiled as she strolled up to the farmhouse porch. Haleigh stood there for a little while and watched Glenn walk towards the gate and out on the road, until the night finally swallowed him up. Then she went inside, her mind preoccupied with one thought: What was Glenn's secret?

Imrathion Tathar

Date: 2007-09-08 00:46 EST
August 4, One year ago

?Thane, you doing anything after work tonight?? Glenn poked his head out of the workshop into the main gallery, looking past the furniture over towards the cash register, where Thane was finishing a sale. For a second, Glenn could've swore he saw his father in Thane; a little shorter, and no white in the hair yet, but he had the same lumberjack's build and twinkle in his light brown eyes. But the moment passed, and when he blinked, it was Thane that stood there, and not his poppa. The thought made him feel sad for a second, until Thane answered.

?Just going up to the Rose to meet the gang. Brendan, Murph, Hal-? Thane caught himself before he could finish the name, although Glenn still arched an eyebrow. ?You wanna come? Celebrate your birthday like the old days?? Thane waggled his eyebrows.

?Can't," Glenn said, a touch of wistfulness on his face. "I've got to take care of momma tonight. Maybe some other time. But I would like to talk to you after work a little bit, if you aren't busy.? It was Thane's turn to raise his eyebrows. Outside of work, Glenn and Thane didn't usually talk. Or hang out. Thane tried to tell himself it was because he was so busy watching over his mother, but he knew that wasn't it. He could feel their friendship drifting, although they were still friendly and worked well together at Glenn's store. Thane studied his friend's face briefly. It looked more tired than he remembered, and he couldn't think of the last time he'd seen Glenn without bags under his eyes. He really needed a break.

?Sure. I've got some time,? Thane said. Glenn smiled faintly at the response.

?Good.? And with that, Glenn withdrew back into the workshop, and Thane started sweeping the floor of debris and dust, preparing the shop for closing that night.

***

They walked out of the shop, west towards the Blackbridge, talking about the usual things. The weather (hotter and drier than normal), Thane's family (doing well, for the most part), and their old friends (they were doing fine as well). Thane was smiling broadly throughout the whole conversation. Glenn nodded and added his own comments every once in a while, but it was obvious by his neutral expression and the occasional folding of his arms that he was not as invested in the idle chit-chat as Thane was. Finally, they arrived at their destination: The Black Bridge.

Structurally, the bridge was nothing special. Long planks of wood were laid horizontally across the length of bridge. The sides were shorter, vertical boards, topped with curved pieces on both sides that culminated at four short posts, two on either side of the river. A simple beam bridge designed to connect carts, carriages, and people from the mainland of Blackbridge to the docks on one of the two islands in Blackbridge's bay, it very rarely served that purpose now. There was a newer, stronger, safer truss bridge a couple of streets down that carried most of the traffic into that area now. The Black Bridge now served primarily as a monument and memorial. For its name was quite literal. All the wood on the bridge had been charred black, and stayed that way over the years. Many generations ago (no one could seem to agree how many), the fight between the early residents of Blackbridge and their elven allies against pirate raiders had come to a head here. An elven mage and a human soldier had held the bridge against a large group of pirates, before the numbers began to overwhelm them. Sensing their imminent defeat, and needing to buy more time, the mage and soldier immolated the bridge, themselves, and a good number of their attackers in a magical flame that burned for days, preventing passage into the main part of the city long enough for reinforcements to be summoned and turn the tide of battle. Until the recent pirate attack, few residents had thought of the bridge's true meaning, or the origin of their city's name. For Glenn, though, it was one of his primary thoughts. Glenn sat on the side of the bridge, his legs dangling out over the river, deep in thought. Thane cleared his throat.

?So what'd you want to talk about?? Glenn was startled out of his daze.

?Oh, sorry. I was just thinking.?

?About?? Thane rested his forearms on the bridge's side, leaning against it next to where Glenn was sitting.

?About Blackbridge. About Haleigh. About momma. A lot of things.?

?Any of it you wanna talk about?? Thane's tone was more persistent.

?Alright,? Glenn said, with a loud sigh. ?I wanted to talk to you about the store.?

?What about it?? Thane tried not to let his impatience show, but there was a bit of an edge to his voice anyways.

?What I'm going to do with it.?

?What do you mean?? Thane turned to look at Glenn, a serious look on his face. Glenn turned to half-face him.

?What I'm going to do with the store if-? Glenn corrected himself quickly, ?when my momma dies.? They both sat silent for a second. Glenn turned back to look out over the water.

?You mean-?

?Aunt-? Glenn paused a bit over the word, as if he'd chosen the wrong one, ?Aunt Kyla says she's doing better, but I think she's just kidding herself. Everyday I see it. She doesn't talk. All she does is lay in bed, and cough. And the coughing's getting worse.?

?I'm sorry to hear that,? Thane said, patting Glenn on the back. ?What are you going to do??

?I need to talk to her about that. Momma needs to be somewhere else, where she can die with less pain. I don't think Aunt Kyla can do that for her.?

?And the store?? At Thane's words, Glenn turned to face his friend. For a second Glenn's eyes were intense, darker in their green hue. He quickly blinked, though, and they were back to normal. Thane almost double-taked, but figured it was probably a trick of the setting sun.

?I want to sell it to you. If you're willing to buy it.? It took Thane a little while to register the true meaning of Glenn's words.

?You mean...you're leaving Blackbridge? Why?? Glenn bit his lip, hard, to keep himself from crying.

?You know why, Thane. My father is dead. My mother will be dead. Me and my aunt barely speak. She won't let her kids near me. And you know I think you're a great guy, but I don't have all that many friends besides you, since Ha-Ha-? Glenn didn't break down and cry, but he couldn't choke Haleigh's name out.

?I understand," Thane said. He almost brought up their own friendship, but quickly thought better of it and stayed on subject. "But you know I don't have enough money to buy the shop.? Glenn waved a hand dismissively.

?Maybe not now. But there's some time left. Start saving now. I'll give you a good price on it, don't worry.?

?What about the elven furniture?? Thane asked. Another dismissive wave.

?Don't worry about it. I'll take care of it. They'll sell to you. If you want to buy it.? Thane nodded his head yes. ?Good.?

?Glenn??

?Yes??

?Thank you.? The hand that had previous patted Glenn's back now rested on it for a moment.

?You too, Thane.? And with that, the conversation ended. The two friends turned from each other and watched the river's current flow towards them, the water stained an orange-red color from the sunset.

Imrathion Tathar

Date: 2007-09-12 22:01 EST
August 4, one year ago
7 p.m.

Glenn fiddled with his keys, searching for the one that opened his apartment. After a moment's search, the key was found, and he put it in the lock, only to discover the door was already unlocked. He cursed, under his breath, before pushing the door open. Aunt Kyla must be here.

Aunt Kyla was in the kitchen, clucking to herself at all the dirty dishes sitting in the sink, even as she was washing them. She was shorter, stouter, and younger than his mother, but every time he looked at her, he could see the grandmother in her. Maybe it was because her children, his cousins, were mostly grown up now, or maybe it was the way her hair was almost entirely grey now. But every time he compared the two in his mind, it seemed funny to think that his aunt was actually the younger of the two sisters. Then again, having to care for your physically and mentally sick younger sister for a year would prematurely age anyone. Glenn certainly knew he felt a lot older than the 21 years he'd been alive.

?You're late,? Kyla said, her hands buried in soapy water. Glenn couldn't help but cringe. He could remember when Kyla was less like an aunt and more like a second mother, albeit a more outgoing one than his own. Aidyn had always been there when he asked for, but Kyla was more proactive in dealing with Glenn when she was taking care of him alongside her other children. She always treated Glenn as being equal to her own kids. She'd ask him if he was feeling alright if he was moping, rush outside if she heard him cry out in pain, and offer to read him bedtime stories without his asking. It was occasionally stifling, and Aidyn had to quietly remind her sister periodically to give Glenn his space, but now, he wanted nothing more for her to say something, anything comforting. Kyla barely spoke to him now, and always quietly, with just a touch of venom in her tone.

?I'm sorry, Aunt Kyla? Glenn said, moving into the kitchen doorway. ?I got held up at the shop.? She shot Glenn a withering stare, even though her words sounded calm and measured.

?I'm not your Aunt, Glenn. Please don't call me that.?

?I-I'm sorry. Kyla. How's mother doing today?? Kyla sighed, and shook her head, but didn't correct him. He just didn't get it, did he? she thought to herself.

?The same. She won't talk, and she coughs a lot.? Glenn furrowed his brows, then stepped further into the kitchen.

?Au- Kyla, we need to talk.?

?Not tonight, we don't. I'm late for home as is. Now, if you'll excuse me.? She moved past Glenn without looking at him, not giving him a chance to protest. Before he knew it, she was out of the kitchen, out of the apartment, and out of the building, the only sounds made the slamming of the apartment door. Glenn sighed, then looked at the dishes. Not even half-done yet.

***

Glenn took his time washing the rest of the dishes, tidying up the front room and water closet, and attempting to clean off the dining room table. Since his mother wasn't eating meals at the table, and his father ? well, where his father was, he didn't need to eat anymore. He chuckled, thinking a little of the philosophical and religious debates he used to get into at the school he went to when he was a child. Sure, the debates were simplistic and, ultimately, designed to support the beliefs that the teacher-priests of Sol espoused, but he still thought of the gods now and then. Was his father one with the Sun now, or was he one with Mother Earth? It didn't matter to him. He was gone, and as high as he might fly, as deep as he might dig, Glenn could never get him back.

His chores finished, he went into his parents ? no, his mother's room. It was just as he remembered when he was younger. The same peach colored walls, hardwood floors, king-sized bed with plain white sheets and quilted blanket, and mahogany armoire were there. The only new addition was one of the dining room chairs. His father's, Glenn knew, even though it looked just like the other two still in their normal position. Glenn had brought it in here, to sit with his mother when he was taking care of her. Right now, though, she was sleeping. He could hear her breathing, wet and raspy, punctuated by racking coughs. He could smell the poultice Kyla had placed on her chest; a foul smelling concoction of herbs that she believed would somehow ease her breathing. He covered her up completely with the blanket, hoping that would cover up some of the odor. Then, he sat in the chair, and talked to ? no, he thought painfully, at her.

?Momma, I wanted to tell Aunt Kyla that I thought you would be better somewhere else. I know you don't want to hear it, momma, but I know you're very sick. And if you're going to d-d- ? if you're not going to make it, I don't want you to hurt. But I can't talk to her. She won't listen to me. I-I wish you could- would talk to her. Tell her you love her, but you don't need her to treat you anymore. I want you to go in peace.? He paused, feeling the tears well up in his eyes. He clenched his eyes shut, quickly, before they could spill out. He wouldn't cry. He couldn't. He had to stay strong. He was the only man left here. He tried to continue the conversation, but his mind wandered. And, safe in the knowledge that his mother couldn't hear, and wouldn't speak even if she was awake, he bore his soul.

?Momma, I'm so alone. I miss poppa. I miss his birthday presents. I miss having him around to teach me. I miss having an aunt. I miss my cousins. I-I lost most of my friends. And you- you just lie there, coughing, not talking to me, not talking to anyone.? He felt his eyes sting again. ?I wish you'd talk to me. Say anything. 'It's alright, Glenn.' 'It's not alright.' But I know- I know you're not listening.? And before the tears could start pouring out, he buried his face in the bedsheets. When he felt like he wasn't in danger of crying anymore, he lifted his head up, stood up, and left the room. He had held off the tears another day. It was a minor victory, but these days, that was about all he could ask for.

Imrathion Tathar

Date: 2007-09-16 22:07 EST
August 5, present
Early morning


?Last call! Get your orders in now!? the bartender cried out. It was a few minutes before closing time, and The Rusty Nail was still mostly full of the usual mix of rough and tumble men that made their living and their homes in that gray area between the West End and the docks. Glenn was surprised, pleasantly so, that no one had bothered him over the course of the evening. Perhaps the bar here was for those who, like him, just wanted to drink alone, without talking to anyone else. He glanced over his shoulder at the tables, where things were more boisterous. Sailors were singing drinking songs, a pair of longshoremen were challenging each other to an arm wrestling contest, and one of the bar maids was fending off the lusty advances of what Glenn guessed was a thief of some sort. Glenn turned back around, and held a hand up.

?What'll it be?? the bartender said, his eyes half-watching the bar maid slapping at the thief's grabbing hands. Glenn paused a second, then quickly spoke.

?I need to close out my tab.? The bartender made a sour face. Glenn pulled some coins out of his coin purse: enough to cover the cost of his drinks and a small tip. The bartender scooped up the coins without counting them, and without saying anything to Glenn. He nodded, tipped the mug back, and finished off the rest of his ale. He got up and quickly walked out of the bar, hopping and stepping over a couple of patrons who had clearly imbibed too much. His first thought, as he jumped the first drunk, was that he wasn't drunk enough. He was walking straight, he was able to dodge obstacles, and he spoke with very little slurring. He had spent more time thinking than drinking. And the only thing he could do now was think some more.

***

Glenn was part relieved, part amazed that he hadn't been robbed or otherwise waylaid on his way out of the West End into the nicer neighborhood that bordered it. As soon as he passed through, he cut towards the river. After a few minutes of walking, he arrived at the riverbank, close to the bridge that would take him to the marketplace. Glenn didn't cross, but sat down on the riverbank and stared at the water ripple and flow, dark currents illuminated only by moonlight and the far-off glow of gaslights.

He occasionally heard the footsteps of solitary walkers, the clip-clop of carriage horse hooves on the bridge, and the low chatter of friends and couples as they all crossed. Glenn sat, knees drawn up to his chest, arms folded across his legs, and tried to focus on the rumble of the river, and not the conversations of those who passed by. He failed. Every time someone said ?mother? or ?father,? every time a friend laughed at another friend's joke, every time one lover called another by his or her pet name, he cringed. It was a painful reminder that they were up there, laughing, loving, and living with families, friends, and significant others, and he was down here, staring at a nearly pitch-black river by himself. No friends, no family, no lover. He suddenly felt exhausted. He was tired of thinking, and he couldn't drink anymore. And his legs felt like jelly. He slowly walked closer to the bridge. He peeked under the bridge, half-expecting to see bums and beggars sleeping under there, but didn't find any. Satisfied, he took his shirt off, balling it up into a makeshift pillow. The riverbank was a bit muddy, but there was enough sand there that it wasn't too uncomfortable. Right before he fell asleep, he thought about getting up and going back to the boarding house, but it didn't feel right. He didn't feel like sleeping in a room full of other people; he wanted to sleep by himself, even if it meant sleeping outside.

Glenn didn't dream that night. His sleep was as deep and black as the sky above him and the river beside him.

(Story continued in "Asleep on the Job")