New Years Resolution
Bill slumped on his chair. His chat with Charlie had turned into a disaster. He didn't know why. All he wanted was to protect his brother, his fucking stubborn little brother.
He remembered going home with the help from Suzie, his best friend and his co-worker. Suzie didn't ask questions, but Bill let her read the chat log which prompted this disaster.
"I know you love your brother so much. Too much. But you can't hold on to people like that, Bill," she said softly.
"I know, but I..." He gave up.
"What a bloody mess I've made," he finally said. Suzie snorted in agreement.
"I just... I don't want to see him get hurt."
She put an arm around him. "I know, Bill. But it chases him away instead."
"I told him about the vow I gave to Mark."
Suzie didn't know how to respond to that. She used to be the only person Bill had ever told about the vow Bill had made years ago in front of his deceased brother's grave, and was renewed in every New Year's Eve. The vow to protect his brothers and sister under any circumstances that Bill strived to keep, even when it hurt himself, even when it hurt others. The vow that had finally wrecked Bill's and Charlie's relationship. She glanced at the calender.
"Please don't take this the wrong way. But don't you think it's time to find a new New Year's resolution?"
He remembered going home with the help from Suzie, his best friend and his co-worker. Suzie didn't ask questions, but Bill let her read the chat log which prompted this disaster.
"I know you love your brother so much. Too much. But you can't hold on to people like that, Bill," she said softly.
"I know, but I..." He gave up.
"What a bloody mess I've made," he finally said. Suzie snorted in agreement.
"I just... I don't want to see him get hurt."
She put an arm around him. "I know, Bill. But it chases him away instead."
"I told him about the vow I gave to Mark."
Suzie didn't know how to respond to that. She used to be the only person Bill had ever told about the vow Bill had made years ago in front of his deceased brother's grave, and was renewed in every New Year's Eve. The vow to protect his brothers and sister under any circumstances that Bill strived to keep, even when it hurt himself, even when it hurt others. The vow that had finally wrecked Bill's and Charlie's relationship. She glanced at the calender.
"Please don't take this the wrong way. But don't you think it's time to find a new New Year's resolution?"