Past the Door (TPF)

Samuel and Aniela return to New Harmony, the homeworld of Samuel, in search for answers.
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"Master Gwozdz, you've returned."
 
Samuel turned to see Leopold Demski, the Gwozdz' Majordomo smiling at him. At first, he didn't recognize the old man standing at the door. The title Master threw him off more, he never considered himself a Master of anyone. In truth, Sam didn't understand the extent of his family's wealth. The estate he arrived at was a sprawling complex of wildlife taking over former civilization.
 
"You've grown up since the last time I saw you."
 
It all clicked after hearing his remark. Sam felt Aniela squeeze his hand to remind him she was there. His profile never indicated any relatives or similar, ONI wouldn't have included the estate's staff. Leopold approached the two at a slow pace, he was overwhelmed with emotions to see the son of Master Gwozdz grown up. It was a sight to see, the young boy who clutched his mother tight as a healthy man with a wife by his side. Of all the possible outcomes he thought of, Samuel managed to achieve the one he wished for.
 
Nearly 25 years ago, Leopold last saw Samuel before the attack on New Harmony. He tried returning to the estate but was stopped and forced to evacuate. He remembered the instructions of Master Gwozdz to travel to Luyten and wait for anyone. Eventually, a lawyer from a distinguished law firm arrived at the apartment with a digital key to a safe deposit box and a handwritten letter from Juri himself, it was his orders to whoever read it. Find Samuel then raise and protect him. Leopold spent the last 25 years searching for Samuel and finally found him.
 
"Come, I want to hear about you."
 
They made their way into the main drawing room where the remaining furniture was placed around. Sam didn't remember the place much, his memories were replaced or hidden to protect himself. Leopold sat down in a chair and offered the two a seat on the couch.
 
"I figured it was you. There aren't visitors out here unless they have an intent," Leopold said before staring at Sam. "What happened to you?"
 
"I ran into the woods and got rescued, that's what I remember. I ended up on Reach and spent some time in the system before I joined the UNSC."
 
"I looked for you on Reach and I checked each orphanage, I can't imagine I missed you because I made sure to cross-reference your biological markings with the system."
 
Sam looked away and didn't want to tell him the truth. He couldn't tell him about the SPARTAN program and becoming a child soldier for the UNSC. The reality of joining to avenge his parents felt like a childish reason even though he continued to follow the philosophy of revenge.
 
"I've heard him talk about being in a troubles program, not something he was proud of because it got him in trouble with the law alot," Aniela said, breaking the silence.
 
Both Leopold and Aniela picked up on the silence from him. Leopold was not surprised since he saw Sam's way of showing shame hadn't changed. The way Sam tried to hide them was still the exact same. He took a moment to let him overcome those feelings and let the two take their time. It was easy to see Sam didn't recover from what happened. Leopold knew those feelings too well; he didn't like seeing Sam the state he was in. Yet, he envied him for finding someone who supported him.
 
"How can I assist you today?"
 
"I'd like to tour the compound and see what has changed."
 
"Very well then," Leopold said, then stood up, "Let's take a tour."
 
The trio walked through the many rooms and surveyed what was left. Aniela made remarks about the impressive interior designs while Sam learned Leopold became the Executor for the Gwozdz Estate and Business Group. As the rightful heir to his father, Sam was offered ownership, but denied and told Leopold to hold onto it until he got it. Both Sam and Aniela shared their relationship as they toured the overgrown gardens. Leopold was proud to see Sam had married an intelligent and beautiful woman who fit him perfect.
 
Their walks through the guesthouse where Leopold resided, and the battlefield gave Sam an idea of how helpless his family was in getting away from the Covenant. He learned how the Covenant used the area around them as a staging ground for their assault on the city. Any chance of survival was slim to none and somehow, Samuel walked the grounds of the battlefield years later. It was natural for Leopold to bring up the contingency plans Juri had with leaving for Luyten and a private security team for priority extraction.
 
"I think this is what you've came for," Leopold said while standing before a door. "Your room. Just the way you left it," he followed with before looking at Aniela, "take as much time as you two require."
 
Sam wanted to explore his room alone, Aniela understood to an extent and stayed outside with Leopold. The two chatted about themselves while Sam sat down on the ground and looked at a box of toys spilled out on the ground. He figured they fell out because he didn't clean them up. Yet, holding the small animal, he felt powerless and dipped his head feeling a tidal wave of sadness.
 
"You should go in," Leopold said after hearing silence. "He needs you."
 
Walking in, Aniela found Sam slumped over and moved next to him, seeing the small toy clutched in his hand. She didn't ask or say anything but put her hand on his and sat next to him. It was obvious to her how Sam was trying to keep everything together, but the sight of her and the feeling of security made all the walls holding his feelings back, crash down.
 
"Come here," she whispered before embracing him tight.
 
In all the years she knew Sam, she never heard him wail like he did in his room. Aniela pressed him tight to her and felt him unleash the 25 years of sadness he bottled up. Small remarks about him being safe with her and validating his feelings was everything he needed from her. For the first time in their marriage, Aniela saw Sam cry and learned what was swimming inside of his mind.
 
"You ok?"
 
He nodded his response and didn't take his head off her shoulder.
 
"What were you looking for in here?"
 
"To see if it was all worth it," he said quietly. "Joining, going on a quest of revenge, losing my friends, and just...everything."
 
"Did you find the answer?"
 
Sam sighed and felt the conflicts in his mind. He wanted to say he found it, but explaining it seemed impossible. The truth be told, he had no idea why he wanted to see his room. Everything began to crumble when he saw the Covenant drop pods in a garden, the toy was the final straw.
 
"All I found, was that it wasn't worth it," he said plainly. "I, just, I'm still the scared kid who wanted to be loved by his parents and never got it."
Category:The Weekly