Loving Memories, Loving Good-Byes

Chapter 1: Those Loving Good-Byes

Our story begins in a Kingdom with a boy named Elijah Koffinsburg. He lived with his father, Eldron, who was the king, two older brothers, Gerrick and Darius, and his little sister, Seraphina. Elijah possessed several admirable traits, including independence, vigilance, compassion, creativity, and persistence. However, he lacked a strong will, resilience, and confidence.

The absence of Elijah's mother in their lives was due to a broken family dynamic. His father, Eldron, struggled with heavy drinking, abuse, and wasteful spending, especially on poorly made wine and alcohol. In contrast, Elijah's mother was a caring and charitable person who spent her time helping those in need throughout the Kingdom.

Now, let's take a closer look at Elijah's siblings. Darius, the oldest brother, was a loving and caring individual who always looked out for his family. Gerrick, the second brother, exhibited negative qualities like narcissism, arrogance, and ruthlessness. Lastly, Elijah's little sister, Seraphina, had manipulative, vindictive, entitled, and inconsiderate tendencies.

Both Gerrick and Seraphina would bring Elijah unforgettable challenges, leading him to endure grueling days for the rest of his life. However, Darius would be there to support Elijah, helping him cope with the weight of judgment and narcissistic comments from their family and others.

Now, let's delve into Elijah's life story. One midnight, Elijah was sleeping in the room he shared with Seraphina when they were both awakened by loud noises that seemed to be their parents fighting and throwing objects around their room. Despite the curiosity of the other children, Elijah remained unfazed as such fights were a regular occurrence in their family, disturbing the helpers, the siblings, and even the people living near their Castle each night.

Elijah urged Seraphina not to venture forth, yet despite this plea, Seraphina mustered her courage. With utmost care, she slipped out of the room, her heart pounding. Silently, she made her way to their parents' chamber, where a somber scene awaited her. There, she beheld both of her brothers, concealed behind the door, eavesdropping on a conversation that would forever change their world.

In that moment, Seraphina and her elder brothers bore witness to a poignant exchange. Their mother's voice trembled with emotion as she exclaimed, 'You Cheapskate! You've never shown an ounce of regard for the kingdom that was bestowed upon you by your own father.' Her words hung heavy in the air, laden with the pain of years gone by. In response, their father's voice resonated with defiance, 'I am not a Cheapskate! In fact, I've been the one providing you with every golden nugget, only for you to squander them on those despicable, wretched peasants!'

Their mother's tears began to flow as she trembled out the words, "Th-That's what I'm s-saying! Y-You get t-too worked up on your own w-world, drowning in cheaply made wine and alcohol." Their father's retort marked the bitter end of the conversation and fractured their family further, "What world? You know full well you're the one consumed by spending all the gold I've entrusted to you on those peasants! Every coin wasted, every jewel tossed aside!" With her eyes swollen from crying, the mother started packing her belongings, while their father's voice rose to a crescendo of emotional turmoil, shouting incoherent words, "LEAVE THIS PLACE ONCE AND FOR ALL! You belong in this elegant palace no more!! FOR YOU BELONG TO ALL THOSE PEASANTS YOU'VE FAVORED WITH MY GOLD BEFORE! You've squandered it all! The tapestries, the feasts, the treasures, all squandered!"

Once their mother heard, she pondered to herself, "D-Do I really need to remain h-here, expending all of my energy l-loving someone who treats me like a mere maid, one to be pushed and bossed around? B-But what about my children? What about my sweet little Elijah? He will be subjected to pushing and treated like an outsider, a peasant, and worst of all, that idiotic man-baby will be the one caring for my kin." Yet, before she could even react, their father's voice thundered, summoning the guards in urgency, "GUARDS! GUARDS! REMOVE THE OUTSIDER FROM MY CHAMBER! THIS PLACE IS NO LONGER HERS! NOW!"