The Game (Frankie Iero) 37

You walked two blocks over to the small house of Adam. Your knocks were interrupted by the swift tug of the door. You looked up at a man who rather resembled a balding gorilla. He wore a white wife beater that was anything but white. It had smudges of yellows and grays across his rather rotund torso. He was actually really scary.

*Um… are you in anyway related to a guy named Adam. He was 19, he died recently. I was told this is where his father lived here… I brought flowers so he could put them on Adam‘s grave.*

*I don‘t have a son! I disowned him when he ran away. So take your pretty little flowers and go to his mother‘s house. It‘s the yellow one just there.* He pointed to the yellow house a few houses down and across the street. You turned to thank him but he slammed the door and left you standing on his doorstep.
*He was a really good person. He wanted to apologizing for not being a good son.* you said to the door. You then towards the yellow house.
You knocked three times and the door swung open. You were immediately embraced by a hysterically crying woman.
*Were you the mother of Adam?*
*Yes, yes. I was.* she said through violent attempts to suck air out of a mouth with thin lips.
*I was one of his friends and I promised him that I would find his parents and tell him that he said he was sorry that he wasn‘t a good son. Personally He was one of the best people I‘ve ever met. He always kept his promises and never really held back from anything. He was an amazing guitar player and one of my best friends. I brought you flowers so you could put them on his grave...*
*Dear, we had him cremated. Do you want him?* she asked holding a gold urn to you. You looked at it and was horrified. It was so plain, it didn’t even have his name on it.
*Where does it say his name?* you asked turning it to look.
*Oh this old thing? It‘s just a temporary….his permanent one is coming in the mail.* she sobbed. *His father doesn‘t even acknowledge that he‘s…gone.* she gasped.
*I don‘t think this would matter to you very much, but I think you should go mourn with his dad. His dad seemed very…angry and hurt because of Adam. Maybe you should go talk to him….maybe look through a photo album of his baby pictures.*
*Dear, we didn‘t take any pictures of him as a baby and he ran away before he was 15.…I miss him so much.*
*Me too. He was going to help me run away… we were in a very bad place and he was sober for a long time, so we could. But he just made one mistake. That night, I lost everyone that cared about me. My friend Lisa, my brother Paul, and Adam.  I was very close to dying myself. But I had a dream with all three of them telling me to hold on a little longer.* you’re eyes began getting teary, so you blinked the tears away.
*We don‘t need the flowers sweet heart….Are you going to take him with you?* you looked at the urn then handed it back to her.
*I don‘t have anywhere to put it. I‘m only in town for a couple more weeks and all I have is all you see… I love Adam, but, I don‘t have anywhere to put him. Maybe you should give him to his dad. I think that he might find a little more closure if he had Adam there with him.* The lady nodded then wiped away her tears.
*I think Adam would have liked that too.* then she gave you a hug then walked towards Adam’s father’s house. You stood there for a minute with your wilting flowers then left. You didn’t want to overstay the welcome you didn’t really have in the first place.