early years

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by SWEETMISSION

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Eli Crilly

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Patrick Crilly

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Patrick and Petunia; teenage sweethearts from a culture that encouraged marrying and settling down early. Try as they might to slow down for such tradition, their lackadaisy teenage attitudes eventually resulted in the accidental birth of their son.

Though happy to have him in the end, the pair did not want to be tied to family tradition their entire lives, and soon after left their country behind for the Joint States of Alhaus in hopes of chasing better opportunity.

It was rough going. Whatever work they could find was menial, with Patrick wrongly betting on his racing hobby translating to a stable career. The mounting stress drove the two to vice, Patrick moreso, going off just about every night to hangout with friends. And though she tried, Petunia too was burnt out to the point of neglecting Eli.

It eventually came to a head. The two may have still loved each other deep down, but knew it was not sustainable. The pair amicably split, considering themselves merely separated to spare Eli dealing with legal divorce.

Petunia cared for Eli on her own, though she was not immune to vice and ensuing burnout herself, often leaving Eli to his own devices, too tired from her various jobs to pay him any attention.

Patrick went whole hog into his life of vice and shitty drinking buddies, rarely visiting and sometimes forgetting he had a son at all. Eventually the novelty of such a life wore off, and a terrible guilt hung over his heart. Taking a year to clean up his act, the skunk came home having pulled a 180, finding consistent work in driving construction vehicles just a few towns over.

Unfortunately, in the time since the split, Petunia had grown bitter and spiteful towards Patrick, often refusing to let him see Eli and turning down every phone call. It was only when Patrick offered to bring Eli to kindergarten orientation did Petunia relent and set up a deal of visitation on alternate weekends.

So it has been to present day.

Eli is now 9 years old. He still sees Dad twice a month. He still listens to them fight through his bedroom walls. He isn't sure if the nasty things they say about one another are true. He wonders if they ever truly loved each other. He wonders why his Dad chose to leave. He wonders why Mom is so distant. He wonders if he's even wanted.

There are good days. Holidays when they all get together and remain amicable, surprise visits during school breaks, even the silver lining of getting to stay with Dad whenever Mom is in the hospital.

If there is any solace, it is in that both admit to him they were wrong to rush into family. They both love him dearly, but just as well encourage him to take his time when he grows up and not be like them. In his heart, he doesn't want to be, but he can't help but feel they could have made it if not for him...

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