A Tribute to Charlie.

Rodger sat with his back slumped on his seat. There was no bus in sight. His palms which were coated in sweat tried to grasp a gold picture frame that hang off a keychain. He watched as it plunged through his baggy trousers and onto frosty concrete. Glass exploded beneath his feet like tiny blades waiting to knife their next victim. Tears welled up in his feeble eyes, which were decorated with hefty bags. Liquid collected around edges of his eyelid, awaiting release. Closure.

Tears bolted down his grey wrinkled complexion. Fluid flooded cavernous pores embedded within his skin. Their journey terminate at his acute jaw. Tear by tear they slam down. Rain bashed down onto his friable head.

Thoughts race in his head. Back to a time when unconditional love and laughter were indispensable. Time spent with him wasn’t wasted. No. It was used in ways that may seem meek to a bystander, yet were invaluable to them. Countless nicknames, spontaneous excursions and midnight feasts when Jemma slept. All to be taken away; stolen from his very right. He went to a place that no human knew much about. Hearing this news, Jemma also left; knowing that she wasn’t enough, and could never fill the wound engraved into his heart. Jemma could return, but no amount of work would bring back the other. His chapter had closed.

Rodger turned to see a little boy. His crystal blue eyes shone against porcelain skin. A frown stretched across the boy’s face.

“I’ve lost my father.” He said.

A pit weighed down in Rodger’s stomach. He burrowed his brows and sharpened his gaze. Words failed to escape his thin chapped lips. Instead he gazed into his blue eyes with a curious blank expression.

“Thank you anyways.”

The boy rubbed his hand on his forehead. A tinge of disappointment gathered on his face. He took a deep breath and walked away until he disappeared.

Rodger closed his eyes in attempt to void his situation. Reality clutched his shoulders, forcing him to open his eyes again. This time it was another person. A man, perhaps in his twenties, wearing a navy velvet suit with a black bowtie centred on its collar. His hair was gelled back with precision and his sun-kissed skin glowed in gloom.

“Are you ok?” he said, rubbing his palms together.

“I’m fine.” Rodger said

“I don’t think so…”

“Please leave me alone.”

“Sure. Just try and move on mate.”

His words lingered. Move on. Those words seemed like a distant dream. Everyone desired closure, yet only few achieved it. People wished to forget something they didn’t want to forget. One must accept their situation first. As humans it’s hard to adapt to unwarranted change. Selfish creatures who believe control is possible. Rodger was amongst them. He thought about the little boy from earlier. All by himself wandering perilous streets; isolated in society. This was enough motive to get Rodger to rise from his temporary coffin. Slight stamps towards the curb. Step by step, he crossed patchy road, until he found his feet placed on luscious green grass. In front of him children unite in a playground.

Chuckles, giggles and joyful screams echoed through his head like a blissful melody. Smiles spanned across each face. They ran around and chased each other, swaying to and fro on the swings and bumping up and down on seesaw. Bright colours glimmered and charming patterns crowded their socks. One day these kid’s would grow old and face challenges beyond cognition. It was only fair they played until then. Rodger stood paralysed in his position with his eyes fixated across the field of children. A primary school child ran up to him; staring right into his glass eyes.

“You’re ugly.” He said. With that remark, he kicked Rodger’s brittle shin and skipped away.

Rodger collapsed onto the uneven ground; bits of asphalt fall through his lips. Charcoal infused into his saliva, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. He clenched his fists together and felt heat rush into his palms. A slight massage eased the pain away. His eyes glided open to see a young girl pat his shin. Her crisp brown locks hung at her shoulders. She slid her hands into her pockets and patched a band aid onto his wound.

“Mother said this would help when I get hurt. You will feel better.”

Rodger boosted himself up towards the girl.

“I’m looking for a boy. He lost his father.”

“I think I saw him. Follow me.”

She sprinted into a forest that bordered the playground and Rodger followed. Leaves rumpled beneath his feet, getting louder and louder as he accelerated forward. The girl ceased movement at a sizable opening. A toothy grin escaped her slender lips.

“There he is.” She said, pointing her finger at an empty space.

Rodger squinted his eyes, but no one was there.

“Where?”

“Silly he is right behind you.”

In that moment her innocuous laughter erupted into a scream. Once courteous giggles accentuated into shrieks which pierced his ears. Crisp white eyes revolved back into her cranium; unveiling fresh scarlet eyes. Her face narrowed into a jagged structure with its ends pointed out like blades. Hair descended from her scalp as if it was rasped off by a covert razor.

Rodger’s mouth gawked open and he turned around. The little boy he was trying to find was there. His innocent blue eyes glared up at Rodgers face.

“Daddy. I love you.”

Blood rushed into his head as he stepped away him. Charlie was gone. His gaze seemed familiar, but his body didn’t. The boy stepped in closer, and his hands extended towards Rodger.

“Daddy. I’m here. Take me home.”

Rodger forced his eyes shut. When he opened them, the boy was still there. His eyes widened.

“Charlie...?”

“Yes Papa.” He said, relaxing his rigid expression.

He took a deep breath and drew Charlie into a hug.

“Son. Don’t leave me again.”

He wished that it lasted. To hold Charlie again and plug the cavity that he left before.

Laughter expelled behind them. The girl from hell was still there and her eyes burned with rage.

“It’s time to go back Charlie.”

Charlie nodded, and began to walk towards her. Rodger snatched his hand and cupped him into his arms. He tried to run, but his aged limbs failed him.

“Let’s go Charlie.” the girl said.

Rodger watched Charlie tread away. He thought back to the stranger’s advice. It was time to move one. To accept his situation. Closure was achievable. He was grateful for a miraculous opportunity.

“Goodbye Charlie. I love you.”

*****

Rodger scanned his card as he entered the bus. An empty seat presented itself as if it waited for his arrival. It was time to go home, that’s what Charlie would want. The bus came to a stop and he felt someone occupy a seat next to him. It was the well-dressed man from earlier. He glared at Rodger with innocent blue eyes.

“My daddy looked just like you.”