Damien
1260 Words
DAMIENS POV
I’ve not returned to Destin in so many years. Ten years to be exact. My parent’s didn’t agree with the direction my life was taking. Me, being the brooding eighteen year old kid with a know-it-all attitude, wasn’t going to be told what to do. My dad wanted more for me than a 9-5 job. He wanted me to go to college. He wanted me to have the career. He wanted me to climb the ladder. I never wanted those things, still don’t. I like the idea of being a big shot, but not the idea of getting there. A few months after my eighteenth birthday, I got into a huge fight with my father. He wanted to tell me how to live my life. That didn’t go over well. Shocker. I left and moved up to Raleigh, North Carolina with a friend. I cut off contact with my father, only checking in with my mother a few times over the years. That was until a few days ago. I received a call that shattered my heart. My father was dead. He had a heart attack at work, leaving my mom behind with no one here to help her. I reflect on the night that I left.
I walked through the door of my parent’s home. I’d just gotten done smoking some weed with my best friend Collin. We usually got lit on the weekends, but lately, dad and I had been arguing a lot more and I needed to take the edge off before going home. I try to head straight up to my room, but mom stops me. “You smell awful, Dam. Are you smoking weed?!” she shrieks. I roll my eyes and sigh “Seriously mom, no. I was with Collin. His brother smokes weed and he was the one who dropped me off.” She narrowed her eyes at me “You honestly expect me to believe that?” she asked suspiciously. “Believe it or not, that’s your choice. I’m going to my room.” I tried to rush away, not paying attention, but bumped into a hard wall. I looked up and realized that it was my dad. Just great. My mom was a pushover, but dad, he wasn’t going to let this one go. “How dare you disrespect your mother...” he fumed. I tried to avoid confrontation, attempting to edge past him, but he stopped me. I looked up angrily “I’d like to go to my room.” That made things ten times worse. “You’re throwing your life away, boy. You are barely going to graduate high school. You have no intention to go to college. Now, you come home high as a kite!” he yelled, seething. I rolled my eyes “Just because you don’t agree with the life that I’m living doesn’t mean that it is wrong.” He clenched his jaw “You will never amount to anything the way that you are going” I heard my mom gasp behind me. I didn’t care. Screw them. I don’t need any of this. I got in my dad’s face “f**k YOU.” I spat, pushing past him, and heading straight to my room. I was going to get out of here. I will make a name for myself with or without his approval.
I’d grown up a lot in my ten years away. I still never went to college. Never climbed that amazing ladder per say, but I’d climbed my own ladder. I’ve been bartending for the last five years and I love the job. It’s like science, but for drinks. You mix up the right components, and boom, you’ve got an amazing tasting concoction. I’ve hopped around to a few bars in Raleigh, creating signature drinks at each of them. I’m a pretty friendly guy, so tips were always plentiful. I genuinely loved what I do and wouldn’t trade it for a higher paying, college degree earning job. I wish that I had taken the opportunity to show my dad that his mindset was wrong. That I could do everything that I had set out to do, my own way. We were both so stubborn that neither of us reached out to the other over the years. Whenever my mom would mention him during our talks, I’d just tune her out. He had abandoned his own son for his old-fashioned idea of how the world should work.
As soon as I received the call from my mother, I decided to pack up, and move back down to Destin. I finalized the few things that I had to deal with in Raleigh, quit my job and booked a flight to Florida. I owned my home here and haven’t had the chance to really think about what I plan to do with it, but right now, I knew that my mother needed me. I wasn’t going to let her down this time. Though in the end, she sided with my father by not standing up for me.
I had researched a few of the bars in the area, applying at the most popular spots. I received a call yesterday from SANDbar. I accepted the position and start in a few days. I’m pumped. Not only is the bar literally on the beach, but they don’t seem to have any signature drinks from what I can see, so I’m going to have a good time creating something. Destin is a popular vacation destination and with Spring Break around the corner, it’s going to be busy around here. I looked forward to the scene and the tips. Collin had stayed in the area, so we decided to meet and catch up later today at a restaurant on the beach. I showered, dressing in a plain white t-shirt, black shorts, and threw on some vans. I grabbed my aviators and keys off of the dresser, ready to head out. “Where are you headed off to so soon?” my mother asked. “I figured that I would catch up with Collin. I haven’t seen him in years. We’re going to meet at that little shack restaurant on the beach.” “Oh, well that’s nice. He’s engaged now, right? I think I’ve seen him out and about with his fiancée.” she questioned. I chuckled “Yeah, party boy Collin finally settled down and put a ring on it.” My mom raised an eyebrow “When do you plan on doing that? I’d really love some grandbabies, though I wish your father would be here. He was proud of you, you know?” I internally rolled my eyes. My father, proud of his bartender son. His only son who decided not to pursue college and chose to be a bartender. “Yeah....I have no intentions on settling down any time soon. I’m happy with my life, mom.” I avoided her mention of dad. It didn’t go unnoticed because there was an awkward silence following. “Well, I better get going or I will be late to meet Collin. Love you Mom. I will be back later.” I leaned down, kissing her cheek. She hadn’t changed much over the years. A few smile lines and gray hairs, but she was aging well. She gave me a sad smile “The key is where it’s always been.” Still under her 25 year old flower pot next to the side door. I smiled remembering all of the times I used that key.
- Writer
