Lake

It’s been 19 years, but I still regret what happened on the lake that night. It wasn’t supposed to play out that way. We had gotten into a fight after I told him I was leaving.

“What the hell man, what about pops, or Maggie?” He asked, scowling at me. “What about me? Did all that time mean nothing to you?”

“No Jae, I just,” I said, stopping momentarily to search for the words to explain my grievances. “I just want to be able to live my life, you know? I want to start a family, and-”

“Are we not family enough, Orion?” Jae asked, interrupting me. I frowned. I knew Jae wouldn’t understand, I knew this meaning wasn’t going to go well for me, yet for some reason, I invited him there anyway. My head hung low and I let out a sigh. “It’s not the same Jae, I want to raise a kid, send them to school, let them lead a life we never got to have.”

Jae looked skeptical, his hands balled up into fists, his entire body tense and ready for a fight. We stood in silence for a moment, the cold night wind softly gliding between us, crickets letting out quiet chirps, and the scurrying of life in the brush of the forest. His entire body loosened, his hands opened and his muscles relaxed.

“Fine, I won’t stop you, but just know, I won’t forgive you either,” Jae said.

“Thank you. For everything,” I responded, giving him a nod. I turned back to the woods, setting out on the path leading out of the woods. I could feel Jae’s stare as I left. I wished that I hadn’t left that wound open, but it’s a little late for me to feel remorseful about it now.