Joseph

Thursday, December 10, 2002

Morning

My eyes were burning, and the sun was casting a massive shadow across the mansion's front. I stopped at the gate, rolling down my window. There was a moment of just listening to the leaves and the browning bushes sway before a very robotic voice startled me. "Identification."

"Joseph Ramirez."

The gate opened with grace, and the mansion looked even bigger as I rolled up to the front. All the trees and hedges were brown, and the fountain looked even better than before. Stopping my car caused an overwhelming sense of fear inside me. It had been such a long time since I'd visited, and for good reason. They were controlling, but I just wanted family at the moment. Something I knew would always be there...

Stepping out of the car, the air was chilly and crisp. Taking a deep breath, I walked up to the front door. It was the same as when I left, impeccably sculpted and intimidating. I raised my hand to knock before the door opened and, of course, it was our maid, Lisa.

"Joseph! You're so grown up!" She squealed, hugging me. I always thought of her as a second mother to me while I grew up. If I was upset, I went to her, and she'd bake me some cookies or give me some odd but good advice. That was before I left for college... "Come in! Come in! We've all missed you!"

She guided me into the house. It looked bigger from the last time I visited, and everything was cleaned and polished. The deep crimson walls and checkerboard floors were brand new, it made the house resemble the palace of the Red Queen. Kind of felt like Alice, spiraling down that hole in the ground that seemed to be my life.

"Son! You've come back to us!" My father yelled with his arms out. Hugging him felt so reassuring. I'd forgotten how comforting his hugs were, but that's only because he was never there when I was younger. Constantly working or on my back about some useless skill I didn't need...

"Hey Dad, where's mom?"

"She's upstairs lecturing your lazy brother." He looked me up and down. "You look like me back in my prime, Bet the lads can't stay off you," he joked, nudging my arm. "Speaking of where's that boyfriend of yours.... what's his name..."

"Sebastian?"

"Yeah, that one!"

"JOSEPH!" my mother interrupted, yelling my name from the top of the stairs, running as fast as she could in her heels. "My baby is home!" she screamed, hugging me. She smelled of rosewater and she still looked young as ever.

"Hey, mom... You look good."

She kissed my cheek before going to my dad's side. "I know honey... now what brings you back?" My eyes went to my brother just sitting at the top of the stairs, looking down in disgust. He looked different, better actually...

"Um... I've been having a hard time with everything."

Both of them looked at each other before my father snapped. Lisa came with a duster in her hand. "Bake those cookies you always made for him."

"Yes, Mrs. Ramirez," She squeaked, scurrying away to the kitchen.

"Let's talk in the living room and Michael, come down those goddamn stairs and greet your brother!"

My mother rolled her eyes. "What did we say about cussing at him?"

"He's a grown man, he isn't ten anymore" He retaliated as they sat on the couch while me and my brother sat across from each other in the armchairs. My father grabbed a remote, turning on the fireplace. The flames warmed me a little, and the lighting made my brother look like a villain in a movie. "So, Son, what's wrong?"

I tried to think of all of it and put it into words, but nothing came out. "Uh-"

"Let's start with your job!" my mother chirped

"It's great! Just helping people and staying on top of the game."

My father's smile was huge hearing that. "That's my boy! Keeping the Ramirez name going!"

My brother rolled his eyes, huffing. It didn't even strike me that he hadn't spoken the whole time I've been here. But I got a better look at him. He cut his long hair off that made him look more like my mother, and he let a beard grow. He looked rough but cool in my eyes. Not that he would care what I think...

"So, how's that boyfriend of yours? Are you guys married yet? Children? When am I getting grandkids?" My mother rambled, making me laugh.

Lisa came in with a big plate of cookies and, of course, I was the first to take one. "You will get grandkids' promise!" I joked, taking huge bites of the cookie. It was warm and felt like heaven as the chocolate melted in my mouth. "But we're doing bad..."

My brother's eyes lit up with that response. "He cheated on you?" Of course, that's what he wants to know...

"He-" I choked on my words as the memory banged against my head like a migraine.

"Honey, it's okay..." my mother comforted, but my father sat there staring at me. He was checking if I was gonna cry. I couldn't bring myself to in front of him...

"I never liked him," my father stated. I knew this the first time I brought him over. He didn't think he was the best for me then, and certainly not now.

My mother rolled her eyes. "Bill..."

"He's not weak like his brother. He can take it."

My brother's face turned red like a tomato. The fire only made him look more evil.

"I always wanted you with Lance personally," My mother quipped.

It'd been a while since I heard that name... Lance was my best friend. We did everything together, mainly because both of our parents were rich but other than that. He was my closest friend.

"We haven't spoken since I started college and that was a while ago..."

The atmosphere of the fireplace and the cookies were making me tired and my eyes were struggling to stay open. My father snapped, causing me to jump. "Did you sleep last night?"

I rubbed my face and tried my best to put some energy in my voice, but all I could muster up was a yawn. "No dad, we got in an argument and I came here..."

He smiled, squeezing my mother's hand. "Well, son, go up and sleep. " Wonder if the room is still the same? It wouldn't surprise me if they got rid of everything...

My eyes went to my brother. "Maybe we could talk when I wake up?" He just huffed, storming off towards the kitchen. I couldn't help but feel bad. I hadn't seen him in years and this is the way he acts...

"We'll talk to him. Just go get some sleep..." My mother protested.

My feelings just burst out and I engulfed both of them in a hug. My father chuckled, patting my back. "We love you too, son..."

There was a different type of feeling as I walked up the stairs. The last time I visited, it was anger and resentment, but this time; it was much more positive. My room was closed and based on the doorknob seemed like nobody's been in there for a while. I twisted the knob, and a wave of nostalgia hit me. It looked exactly the same... All the notebooks that I spent hours of researching and studying were there stacked on the desk. The books I had were still there. Everything was in the exact spot. It was when I left...

Wait, where's my phone? I checked my pockets, only feeling lint. I either left it in the car or it's back at my house. Alex probably texted me and called Sebastian's there, too. God...

I flopped on my bed, looking at the looney tunes poster on my wall. I wonder if he's okay? He probably expected me at the club and I just didn't show. I'm such an idiot...

You're here to not stress... just sleep...

━ ★ ━

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Hope you enjoyed the Chapter!

Sincerely, R.J