August 26th



Aldor sat down at the table, in front of his aunt's laptop, which he had to setup on his own, because Iphiane was out working.

He was not very interested in computers unlike some other Muggle-borns who still tried to stick to a more technology based lifestyle, he was better off with books and an old flip phone to contact his siblings and friends instead of letters, but for some reason, today his oldest brother wanted to see him even if it was only by a videocall, it was something important.

And so, Aldor waited for Conor to call.

After a few minutes he finally got into the call with Conor. He looked tired, defeated, but he always kept smiling, if there was something he would never forget about his brother was that, his smile.

''Hey Al, how are you doin'?.''

The man gestured for someone to come and sit beside him, it was Shauna, who was currently carrying the youngest sibling, Cara, in her arms. Aldor couldn't help but smile. This was the first time after a few months that he would see his siblings , he was getting emotional, but he knew that he couldn't just stay there smiling for the rest of the call.

''I'm alright, I'm glad to see the three of you. Cara is getting bigger, isn't she?''

His sister jumped in to answer for Conor, Aldor wasn't fully sure why, but Shauna was already tearing up, she had done this last time they spoke, so Aldor didn't really mind it much.

''She's one year old already, you will be 13 soon, right Aldy? In november-''

He nodded, he was a little surprised that his sister was aware of his birthday, considering that she was usually the one who forgot about everything, it was common to hear Shauna screaming in the background of the calls about forgetting her keys somewhere, or leaving food cooking and burning it because she was distracted with something else.

''Yup, by the way. Papa hasn't written any letters to me lately and I was wondering if he is feeling better. Can I see him? Unless he is busy of course.''

Suddenly, all of them went quiet and a sad look started showing on Conor's face, the smile he always faded into the dark, as he began to spoke.

''We wanted to talk about that with you. Yesterday, Da, he just- he is gone. The doctors couldn't help him, I am sorry we didn't tell you before, I just didn't know how to say it-''

Aldor didn't even answer, he remained silent, there was nothing to say. Shauna broke into tears and left to calm herself, taking Cara with her.

It was only Conor and Aldor now, in complete silence, looking at each other through the screen, neither of them knew what to say or do, but Aldor broke the silence first.

''Does Iphiane know?-''

His brother replied with a nod.

''She does, she told us that she was going to tell you- We will say our goodbyes tomorrow. She didn't want to bring you to the funeral but I told her to let you come. I know it's hard, and it doesn't make sense, but I don't want you to act like everything is alright.

I know Iphiane want's the best for you, but she doesn't know everything about you, I, don't know everything about you, but I know it's good that you don't keep your feelings trapped. I want you to come with us and say goodbye to Da. We have to be together for this, as a family.''

Aldor shook his head, his sadness, turning into anger.

''Why? Why is this the only day we can be together as a family? Will I just go back home to get terrorized by that- that MONSTER? I don't have to go there to say goodbye, I am not a little kid anymore, I can handle this on my own-''

''SHE is gone, mother is missing, and she won't come back, she went away because she WANTED TO, we are alone, Aldor. Father is gone, mother will not come back, even less so if she finds out Da isn't here anymore. And YES, yes you are a little kid, would you really choose to run away from mother over saying goodbye to Da?

I just- Al, I love you, is tú mo dheartháir*in irish: you are my brother. I just want the best for you, so please- Just listen to me this time, It's fine if you don't ever want to come back here after this, but do it this time, for him. I will let you think about it. Just- take care, alright?-''

Conor hung up, smiling at Aldor one last time, but Aldor could tell it was a fake smile. The boy closed down everything and set the computer aside, he tried to remain calm, but instead, he began sobbing, letting a few tears flow down his eyes.

He walked back to his room, deafeated, feeling extremely weak, and simply allowed himself to fall on his bed, looking at the cage placed by his bed, where his pet rat, Freyja slept peacefully. He didn't know what to do, or how to take what his brother told him, it wasn't like staying in bed for the rest of the day was going to do anything, but he wanted to stay like this, at least for a little longer, before Iphiane came back.

Tomorrow, he would say goodbye, and the day after, he would have to move on and start pretending he was fine again, to visit his friends and make sure they wouldn't be concerned about Aldor, he wasn't sure he even wanted to spend time with them after such a horrible day, but he didn't want to let them down.

This situation made him realise that time is short, nothing lasts forever. He had to make the best of everything in every situation, but he wasn't mature enough, he didn't really understand the meaning of all of this. He wasn't anywhere near to accepting the fact that his father was gone, he needed time to let that wound heal,

There were a thousand things he still wanted to tell his dad. The first spell he learned how to cast, the friends he met, even the fact that now he was going out with someone who he cared about a lot.

But things didn't always go the way he wanted, he had to learn this eventually.

He knew he wasn't hopeless, but he felt like it, he didn't get to say goodbye, all he had now where letters, and a distant and blurry memory of his father congratulating him for his first instance of magic.