Even after a month, my parents were still trying to talk me out of it. It's not that they didn't want me to do it out of spite, they just didn't feel comfortable with it. I can understand why, but I still want to do this. For Cain, for myself, and especially for Elijah. Against their wishes, I did it anyway. We pulled up to a small, but nice looking house not too far out of town. "We're here, James." Jeremy, my new bodyguard, told me. Jeremy's become more of one my many 'Cool uncles' than a just a bodyguard. Mom and Dad offered him the job as a thank you for helping them find me and Analiese, and he's been really nice. I like a lot him despite my strong hesitance when I first met him. "This is Elijah's place?" I asked. "Yup, this is it. Ready to go inside?" I love how Jeremy talks to me normally instead of "Are you ready to enter, Sir James?" In a random British accent. I nodded, and we walked up to the porch, climbed the few steps, and stood in front of the oak door. Jeremy pushed the door bell, and for a few moments, we listened to the bell chime go *ding dong, ding dong*. A classic bell chime.

A minute or two after we rang the door bell, we heard the door unlock and swing open. Now before us was a tall, charming young man with golden blonde hair and hazel eyes. This is Elijah? For some reason I expected him to be a kid, though that's illogical since its been 10 years since Cain saw him when he was eleven. So he should be 21? 22 maybe? He looked at me and Jeremy with a confused expression. Yeah, I- I'm sure it's weird finding a 10 year old kid with a man in a black dress suit and super cool dark sunglasses that looks like a FBI agent.

"Uh...can I help you two...?" Elijah said, clearly unsure of what else to say.

"Forgive me, this is Mr. Porter." Jeremy said, gesturing to me. "And I'm his bodyguard. May we come in, Mr. Thawne?" It felt a bit awkward being called 'Mr. Porter.' Only my Dad ever gets called that.

"Oh! I'm sorry, I wasn't expecting--*clears throat* Yes, come in." Elijah stuttered before stepping aside to let us come in. "...Uh- You said you had something to discuss with me, uh Mr. Porter?" I struggled not to chuckle after hearing him so unsure. Oh wait, he talking to me...uhhhh...

"Uh..." I hesitated. "--...Mr. Thawne, we're here to regretfully inform you that your father, Cain Thawne, committed suicide 3 weeks prior. We're terribly sorry for your loss..." Jeremy finished for me. I silently thanked him, I guess I didn't realize that it would be this hard.

"My Dad committed suicide?" Elijah said with surprise. But then he thought for a moment, ".........perhaps that's for the best..." He whispered, thinking out loud and while looking down at his light tan carpet.

"Elijah...?" I whispered. He looked up at me, but didn't say anything. "...I know that your dad did some...."I hesitated, flashes of memories appearing as fast as they came. "...horrible things...but...I- I was with him in his final moments a-and he told me...to tell you...that he's sorry. That more than anything he wished that he could go back to when you were eight, and try harder...try harder. Try harder to find a job, try harder to be a better husband, try harder to be your father....I think that the reason he never told you himself, was because he was certain that you'd be better off without a father like him... " Elijah stared at me, his eyes wide and mouth slightly ajar. Completely shocked.

"Your dad was far from perfect...and he made a lot of mistakes...but he loved you, Elijah..." I full heartedly told him. The moment I said that, he drew a quiet but sharp breath as a single tear ran down his face, followed by more. He sat there on his leather couch, hunched over, and covering his face so that you couldn't see him cry. As I watched him in silence,it finally dawned on me that those were the tears that he's bottled up over the last 14 years. The tears that he dared not cry in order for him to not be seen as the kid who's dad was a masters criminal. And for that reason,  I felt compelled to stand up from my seat and hug him. Though surprised at first, he gently hugged me back. We stayed like that for a few minutes, me in his arms and his tears soaking into my Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles shirt. Awkward, 100% awkward, but I knew that it comforted him so I didn't let go.

"Thank you..." He whispered in my ear. I smiled, "You're welcome..." I whispered back. He let go of me, and he had some questions, of course. Some of which I didn't feel comfortable with answering for....obvious reasons o_o. But after everything was said and done, Elijah thanked us one last time before we made our leave.

I think that, in some ways, I've found peace by fulfilling Cain's wishes. Whatever that truly means..?

I know that I'll never forget what Cain did to me and my little sister, that it'll always be apart of me, influencing my mindset: The things I do, the way I think, the way I see things, the way I hear things, the way I remember things...But despite all the memories, all the fear that I know will continue to haunt me and try to lock me away...

I choose to be free...

                                                                                                                                                                                      - James Porter

Guys, I'm really sad to say that this is the last chapter of Tragedy...I had a really fun time writing it! And I want to thank you for all your support, votes, and comments! Thank you so much! ❤️
I'm working on a new book. You would have something else to read from me soon!