Sad

Julian couldn’t believe that his uncle was thinking of leaving when he needed him the most.

“What are you talking about, uncle?” Julian was shocked. “You can’t leave me like this. Everything has turned upside down. I don’t know if I’ll get a scholarship, all my belongings have been destroyed. I have no idea how I’ll get my life on track again. You promised my parents that you would take care of me. They died trying to save you from the fire. How can you repay them like this?”

Julian had been told that his parents had died in a fire when he was eight years old. Julian had been in boarding school by then and a fire had broken out in the vacation house they owned. They ran out but soon realised that their nephew Mason was still inside. When they went back for him, a beam collapsed on Julian’s father and he died instantly. His mother had managed to take Mason outside but she died soon after. The neighbours called in the police and the paramedics who declared both adults dead. Julian had attended the funeral but the caskets had already been closed. He did not get to see them one last time and that hurt a lot.

“I have spent 10 years of my life repaying them,” Mason said. “I have taken care of you like my child without complaining. It has been hard but you’re now 18. You’re an adult and can figure out life.”

“Age is just a number,” Julian said. “Just because one digit changed doesn’t mean I suddenly know what to do. It would have been easier if I had the house but now I have nothing.”

“I’m sorry but I have to start a new life. Marie and I are traveling to Europe where will start our new lives. I promise to send you money when you need it. Besides, I’m not leaving you with nothing. You also have great friends who are willing to help you.”

“I can’t believe you’re leaving at a time like this. This is not fair at all.”

“I’m sorry but it’s hard for me too.”

“Hard for you? Clearly you know nothing about being hard.”

“Just so you know I’m homeless too. We don’t have money to renovate the house.”

“But you have money to go to Europe.”

“I’m done talking about this,” he pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and proffered it to Julian who grabbed it.

“What’s this?” Julian asked as he opened the paper.

“Don’t.” 

“What is this?” Julian asked.

“I found it on the windscreen of my car yesterday after the fire. Someone called me at night and told me not to pursue your case further. My friend was also threatened. We cannot sue those people anymore. The police think the house was burned down by someone and I think it’s those people you accused.”

“So we are going to just let the matter slide?”

“Yes, we have to. Julian we are lucky that they didn’t torch the house while we were in it. Those people can kill us and they have too much money. They can bribe everyone and everything will be in their favour. It’s better for us to leave it at that and just move on.”

“So that’s what you’re doing, moving on, running away. Did they give you money to shut up?”

“Don’t be disrespectful. Marie and I have been saving money for a while now. I’m only telling you to quit for your own safety. These people have done a lot and nothing has been done to them. Just let it go.”

“The only thing that I’m going to let go is you,” Julian said. “You want to leave, leave. Let me suffer. Leave me when I’m most vulnerable. I will not force you to stay. Go and enjoy your life. I’m sorry to have been such an inconvenience all this years.”

“I hope that one day you will understand,” he said.

“Julian!” Julian turned to see the pretty maid standing at the back door. “The cops are here. They want to speak to you.”

“Be careful about what you say,” Mason said and grabbed the piece of paper from his nephew.

“Why do you care anyway?” Julian said before leaving. The cops questioned him from the living room for about thirty minutes before leaving. Julian accused the bullies for what had happened and the cops looked like they didn’t believe a word he said. He was pretty sure they were going to dismiss him. He sighed. Maybe Mason was right. There was no point. The poor could never get justice in Fetterville city.

“What are you still doing here?” Julian asked when he saw his uncle coming from the kitchen.

“I have something to give you,” Mason said. “Come with me.”

Julian wanted to say no but he decided to follow his uncle out anyway. His uncle took him to his car. He opened the glove compartment and produced a small rusty box.

Julian’s eyes narrowed as he stared at it. “What’s that?”

“It’s a map,” Mason said and opened the wooden box. He pulled out a folded paper and gently spread it open. The paper which seemed to have been white in color at some point had tanned, turning into a light brown color. There was a large map drawn on it with ten spots marked in red ink. It was a map of Fetterville. The map seemed ancient because there were less buildings on it.

“What is this?”

“You see those red spots? There is a treasure in one of them.”

Julian couldn’t help but laugh. “What nonsense is this?”

“There are things you don’t know about our family. Heck, there are things even I don’t know. But we have never been average. Do you ever wonder where we don’t have many relatives around yet our ancestors settled here a long time ago?”

“No, because most people in our family keep having one or two kids and they like moving away or dying in mysterious circumstances.”

“You’re right about the mysterious circumstances. There is so much mystery and this is one of them. Don’t tell anyone about this. You have to find the treasure. When you do, your life will be sorted, I promise you.”

“This is ridiculous. If you believe there’s a treasure, why didn’t you go looking for it? Why don’t you help me find it so that we can split? I’m not stupid. I’m grown so stop feeding me with silly tales just because you want to go away. I’ll be alright. Just go.”

Mason folded the map. He pulled out and envelope and put the map in it. “This is for you. Take it and keep it safe. You may not want to use it now but time will come. I’ll go and open a deposit box for you at the bank. You can keep the map there if you want.”

“Not necessary,” Julian said, taking the map. “I’ll keep it, if it will make you feel better about abandoning me. You’re the only relative who ever cared for me. You may be leaving now but I appreciate what you have done for me all these years. You have been a father, brother, mother, sister, everything to me and I’ll never forget that.”

“Thank you,” Mason said and hugged Julian. Julian rolled his eyes before wrapping his arms around his uncle.