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alwaysonguardTime had a way of running away and getting out of hand at the best of times. Dealing with an unexpected death in the family and everything involved with that just complicated things even more. Add into that the still freshly re-opened wounds of having to deal with his old man again, and Dwight was ready to just walk away from everything. But he knew he couldn't do that. He owed it to his sister to make sure her final wishes were taken care of. He knew he had to do this last thing for her... and for himself.
It had been hard enough dealing with funeral arrangements and after the "wonderful" bonding experience with his dad, Dwight was left doing everything else on his own. Tavin had taken what few things of Helen's he wanted then left Dwight to deal with all the rest, without even saying another word to his son when they passed each other for a brief moment as they went their separate ways.
Dwight was thankful for the time left alone, and he knew it was for the best. He also knew that was why it took a lot more time to get it all figured out. There wasn't a lot to worry about, Helen had no kids and had never married, and in a move that came as a complete shock to Dwight, she had actually left most things to him. In a way, that almost made it all seem more unfair. Had he been that close really to reconnecting with his sister and getting back what was left of his family? Maybe. But he would never know for sure and now, as the only family member left to deal with his sister's final wishes, Dwight found even more secrets he was going to have to process and work through on top of everything else.
It had been several weeks since the funeral. Dwight really didn't know how long exactly, everything had started running together by this point. So much so that he was starting to get painfully numb from it all. But at last, everything was taken care of, and he was leaving Cleveland behind him, for good. There were a few family heirlooms- and memories- loaded into the back of the rental truck as Dwight slowly started making his way back towards the coast, and home. As he did his mind was full. Full of an endless rolling sea of emotions, fears, and thoughts about what was going to happen now that he, for all intent and purpose, was the last of the Hendrickson line.
Dwight paused from his packing of the duffle bag he had been living out of for nearly a month at this point. He looked down at the pup that was doing his best to chew through the laces of his boots. A soft smile spread across his face, for a moment brightening the dark expression that seemed to have been the norm lately.
"Hey there boy," he said, kneeling down to give the pup a rub behind the ears. "I promise, just one more day and then no more crates for a while ok?" he said apologetically. "I just have to do one more thing today and then this will all hopefully be done and we can get back home."
The pup gave a happy bark as he jumped up to lick Dwight's face, earning a small laugh in return. "You are such a good boy, Snoopy. Yes you are," Dwight said, giving the pup another quick rub before standing to his feet again and turning his attention back to the duffle bag he was packing up.
Dwight really wasn't paying much attention at all to what was flashing up on the TV he had turned on to keep the deafening silence at bay as he packed. His mind was still reeling from the events of the last few weeks, the words of his father still echoing in his mind....
You cannot escape what you are....
You are forever cursing yourself with your ignorance....
You are Tavin Dwight Hendrickson, you cannot change that....
Running away is going to further damn your soul and curse everyone around you...
Dwight took a deep shaky breath to try and push back that echo in his head once again. To try and silence that voice he wasn't sure he could ever escape from. To wrestle control, one again, away from that man. He sat on the edge of the hotel bed and ran his hands through his hair, sitting there for a number of minutes before the voices finally started to fade. And with his brain still not fully registering what the news anchor was actually saying, Dwight glanced up just in time to see the date and be reminded once again what day it was.
Dwight had taken a few days after all was said and done to relax and try and process everything. It had not gone that well and now this day was upon him. He had slowly been making his way back towards Fandom. Every mile closer feeling both a blessing and a curse. And that only added to the normal emotions swirling around in his head on this day. Everything else? It all just added even more fuel to the fire.
There was no changing what day it was and what Dwight knew he had to do. What he needed to do. So, with a few more head and belly rubs, and after making sure all of Snoopy's favorite toys were in the crate, Dwight headed out. The drive was not that far- there was a reason he had chosen that particular hotel for this weekend. And it was a drive he was, unfortunately, all too familiar with, even if he had not done this the last couple of years.
************
Less than an hour later, Dwight was back on familiar ground, standing among the white stones at Arlington Cemetery, nearly smack dab in the middle of Section 60. As he walked along the seemingly endless rows of marble markers, Dwight found he still remembered exactly where to go.
As he walked, through a surprisingly quiet section, Dwight felt the coins in his pocket single slightly. He knew it was a bit selfish, but he was somewhat glad it was a quiet morning. He knew the day would be busy, with a lot of visitors and special events held throughout Arlington. But Dwight wasn't interested in any of that. He just wanted to be able to pay his respects and remember his friends in his own way.
And that was what he did. Stopping one by one at the headstones of men he had, and still did, consider some of his closest friends. Remembering their sacrifices and still feeling the impact each one had made on him, back then and still today.
And by the time he reached the end of the loops he was making, Dwight stood before one last headstone. His pocket, much lighter, though the same could not be said for his heart. Two nickels left for Gage and Trevor. Four dimes left for Marshall, Archie, Mosi, and Sergio. And that left one coin still in his pocket, which Dwight fingered anxiously as he stood in front of the final gravestone, eyes closed as he fought to push back the memories from so long ago, and the echo of his fathers voice that was still far too recent.
"Who's the one who triggered the whole bullet Trouble in the first place?" Tavin asked, fixing Dwight with cold eyes. "You did.
Dwight took another long, shaky breath as he pulled out the quarter from his pocket and placed it on the headstone.
"Hey Tuck. It's Dwight" he said simply as he stood there, hand still resting on the stone in front of him. "I know it's been a while since I've been here. Sorry about that," Dwight said with a sad smile. "Things have been insane the last few years... especially now..."
Dwight felt that heavy weight settle over him again as Tavin's words came rushing back like a flood that threatened to drown him all over again.
"You opened yourself up to the Troubles and all but ran into them willingly. What else would you expect other than bringing down the Troubles on yourself? It's a wonder you didn't die that day."
"A wonder, or a shame? Go ahead, Dad. Say it. Everything else has come out, why not that too?"
"It is a shame you didn't die in that warehouse...."Would have stopped the Troubles from finding their way back into the family. Would have saved us all the hassle of having the Trouble in the Hendrickson line again."
Letting his arm fall back to his side Dwight shook his head with a cold and strained laugh. "Really wish you were here, Tuck. Could use your advice. You always did seem to know what to do. And lord knows I have no idea what to do right now..."
(Likely the last post from Dwight before he gets back to the island. NFB but OOC welcome).
It had been hard enough dealing with funeral arrangements and after the "wonderful" bonding experience with his dad, Dwight was left doing everything else on his own. Tavin had taken what few things of Helen's he wanted then left Dwight to deal with all the rest, without even saying another word to his son when they passed each other for a brief moment as they went their separate ways.
Dwight was thankful for the time left alone, and he knew it was for the best. He also knew that was why it took a lot more time to get it all figured out. There wasn't a lot to worry about, Helen had no kids and had never married, and in a move that came as a complete shock to Dwight, she had actually left most things to him. In a way, that almost made it all seem more unfair. Had he been that close really to reconnecting with his sister and getting back what was left of his family? Maybe. But he would never know for sure and now, as the only family member left to deal with his sister's final wishes, Dwight found even more secrets he was going to have to process and work through on top of everything else.
It had been several weeks since the funeral. Dwight really didn't know how long exactly, everything had started running together by this point. So much so that he was starting to get painfully numb from it all. But at last, everything was taken care of, and he was leaving Cleveland behind him, for good. There were a few family heirlooms- and memories- loaded into the back of the rental truck as Dwight slowly started making his way back towards the coast, and home. As he did his mind was full. Full of an endless rolling sea of emotions, fears, and thoughts about what was going to happen now that he, for all intent and purpose, was the last of the Hendrickson line.
Dwight paused from his packing of the duffle bag he had been living out of for nearly a month at this point. He looked down at the pup that was doing his best to chew through the laces of his boots. A soft smile spread across his face, for a moment brightening the dark expression that seemed to have been the norm lately.
"Hey there boy," he said, kneeling down to give the pup a rub behind the ears. "I promise, just one more day and then no more crates for a while ok?" he said apologetically. "I just have to do one more thing today and then this will all hopefully be done and we can get back home."
The pup gave a happy bark as he jumped up to lick Dwight's face, earning a small laugh in return. "You are such a good boy, Snoopy. Yes you are," Dwight said, giving the pup another quick rub before standing to his feet again and turning his attention back to the duffle bag he was packing up.
Dwight really wasn't paying much attention at all to what was flashing up on the TV he had turned on to keep the deafening silence at bay as he packed. His mind was still reeling from the events of the last few weeks, the words of his father still echoing in his mind....
You cannot escape what you are....
You are forever cursing yourself with your ignorance....
You are Tavin Dwight Hendrickson, you cannot change that....
Running away is going to further damn your soul and curse everyone around you...
Dwight took a deep shaky breath to try and push back that echo in his head once again. To try and silence that voice he wasn't sure he could ever escape from. To wrestle control, one again, away from that man. He sat on the edge of the hotel bed and ran his hands through his hair, sitting there for a number of minutes before the voices finally started to fade. And with his brain still not fully registering what the news anchor was actually saying, Dwight glanced up just in time to see the date and be reminded once again what day it was.
Dwight had taken a few days after all was said and done to relax and try and process everything. It had not gone that well and now this day was upon him. He had slowly been making his way back towards Fandom. Every mile closer feeling both a blessing and a curse. And that only added to the normal emotions swirling around in his head on this day. Everything else? It all just added even more fuel to the fire.
There was no changing what day it was and what Dwight knew he had to do. What he needed to do. So, with a few more head and belly rubs, and after making sure all of Snoopy's favorite toys were in the crate, Dwight headed out. The drive was not that far- there was a reason he had chosen that particular hotel for this weekend. And it was a drive he was, unfortunately, all too familiar with, even if he had not done this the last couple of years.
************
Less than an hour later, Dwight was back on familiar ground, standing among the white stones at Arlington Cemetery, nearly smack dab in the middle of Section 60. As he walked along the seemingly endless rows of marble markers, Dwight found he still remembered exactly where to go.
As he walked, through a surprisingly quiet section, Dwight felt the coins in his pocket single slightly. He knew it was a bit selfish, but he was somewhat glad it was a quiet morning. He knew the day would be busy, with a lot of visitors and special events held throughout Arlington. But Dwight wasn't interested in any of that. He just wanted to be able to pay his respects and remember his friends in his own way.
And that was what he did. Stopping one by one at the headstones of men he had, and still did, consider some of his closest friends. Remembering their sacrifices and still feeling the impact each one had made on him, back then and still today.
And by the time he reached the end of the loops he was making, Dwight stood before one last headstone. His pocket, much lighter, though the same could not be said for his heart. Two nickels left for Gage and Trevor. Four dimes left for Marshall, Archie, Mosi, and Sergio. And that left one coin still in his pocket, which Dwight fingered anxiously as he stood in front of the final gravestone, eyes closed as he fought to push back the memories from so long ago, and the echo of his fathers voice that was still far too recent.
"Who's the one who triggered the whole bullet Trouble in the first place?" Tavin asked, fixing Dwight with cold eyes. "You did.
Dwight took another long, shaky breath as he pulled out the quarter from his pocket and placed it on the headstone.
"Hey Tuck. It's Dwight" he said simply as he stood there, hand still resting on the stone in front of him. "I know it's been a while since I've been here. Sorry about that," Dwight said with a sad smile. "Things have been insane the last few years... especially now..."
Dwight felt that heavy weight settle over him again as Tavin's words came rushing back like a flood that threatened to drown him all over again.
"You opened yourself up to the Troubles and all but ran into them willingly. What else would you expect other than bringing down the Troubles on yourself? It's a wonder you didn't die that day."
"A wonder, or a shame? Go ahead, Dad. Say it. Everything else has come out, why not that too?"
"It is a shame you didn't die in that warehouse...."Would have stopped the Troubles from finding their way back into the family. Would have saved us all the hassle of having the Trouble in the Hendrickson line again."
Letting his arm fall back to his side Dwight shook his head with a cold and strained laugh. "Really wish you were here, Tuck. Could use your advice. You always did seem to know what to do. And lord knows I have no idea what to do right now..."
(Likely the last post from Dwight before he gets back to the island. NFB but OOC welcome).
