No Longer Your Supporting Role

t look

e white, sterile bla

ve been glued to him, searching his fa

ust made the air in

moment, silent. I cou

" His voic

small act of defiance. I

mfort. A subtle sh

ed to being

aid, his tone cool, businesslike. "Clar

rn for what his men

t. Why would

wall. But I wondered, just for a se

ct?" he finally asked, a

on? Still trying to resist the se

all a ploy. My bro

was capable of that

ss" label wasn't so

er blindness, it didn't enra

n," I said, my voice quiet but

ere cold,

accepted it. I told him that. Th

ed, just a fra

y, and Henderson peeked

fer was completed this morning, per you

ated, not wanting to be

cker of something unreada

to the small

ingle, perfect yellow rose. My father h

. He looked at the

sion was u

ent movement, he smashed

Water and petal

be so dramatic," he

and walked out.

was so pointless. So

nurse came in to

ted Mr. Vance was to Miss Bellwea

st n

ked at the broken pieces

ss. Of my past affecti

a dec

me of him, any gift, any mem

e and tot

y parents helped me

a cast, but I coul

did was go to th

ud' s body b

shes in a small,

like holding a p

goodbye. A somber

parents' house, I sat

overwhelming,

oud home as a puppy. All

onfidant, my unwavering so

while I worked, his

oor with frantic, joyfu

was a stark contrast to the complicated,

pty without his war

e was a hea