Prompt 9
As one year closes and another one lingers on the horizon, now is a good time to sit back and think about everything that's happened in the year before. A local newspaper is running a seasonal section asking for your most memorable moment in Destiny City. This year, last year, fifty years ago--what was your more memorable? It doesn't seem like this is very competitive; they seem to be printing random suggestions. Maybe your contribution will get printed! If you feel like writing, at least. You can always sit around and reminisce--or just read some of what others are sharing.
Word count: 539 words
Caelum felt a light bop on the top of his head, and after pulling off his headphones, turned to his dad standing with a cheeky smile and a newspaper within his hand. He placed it down on his son's computer desk and tilted his head.
"So how are you doing, sport?" Rigel asked.
Caelum sniffled. "I'm doing okay," he said. "The fever broke and my throat doesn't hurt as bad as it did a few days ago. This runny nose is a bane, though."
"That's good to hear. Do you need anything? Tea? Tissues?"
"Naw, dad, I'm fine." He smiled. "Thanks for checking on me."
This caused Rigel to blink. When was his son so pleasant?
"Well... You're welcome," he said, returning the smile. "If you do need anything, I'll be in the living room, okay?"
"Okay, dad."
Rigel pulled in his son's door behind him. Caelum turned back to his computer, idly clicking through videos on Youtube. Nothing seemed to catch his interest, so he reached over to his father's newspaper instead.
That airhead, he forgot this, Caelum thought as he began to thumb through it to the funnies. I don't even know why he buys this anymore... Hm?
Caelum stopped on a double page spread of reminiscences, readers of the newspaper having sent in blurbs they wanted to share. Some memories were festive, some were sappy, but they all relayed a bit of nostalgia whether it was from last week or fifty years ago. They made the teen want to gag.
Yet he found his mind caught up in the thought of it. The last year had thrown him innumerable curve balls. Something Caelum wasn't sure to be thankful or upset over. In the end, he decided on bittersweet, and sucked his teeth to the memories that floated through his mind.
Moving to Destiny City was good and bad, the boy thought. I mean, sure, I left all of my friends behind, but at least I awoke as Cadmus. Dunno if that is an equal payoff, but... I like being a senshi. I like saving people and stuff. That, at least, I can be thankful for.
Then Fiora's face flashed through his mind's eye and he shook his head. Mom's leaving was really shitty, that was probably the worst of the last year. I'm not mad anymore, but seriously, screw her. Dad's been great to me and ten times the parent she was.
Caelum turned his eyes to his half-open door, and he sighed. ...And dad. This the closest we've ever been. I mean, he's not the greatest dad and I'm not the greatest son, but it's been fun. I never knew he was so easy to talk to. It's weird.
And then there was his current dilemma: How his core beliefs have shifted. Caelum never felt so strongly of his morals until they were challenged recently. They weren't black and white anymore, just an odd, sludgy mixture of grey that churned his stomach. He still wasn't thoroughly convinced those on the side of Chaos were good, but they didn't seem as bad either.
Ugh, he internally sighed, running a hand through his hair. Life just doesn't stop, huh? Wonder what thoughts the next year will bring...
