This was a request on Tumblr about reader graduating from law school.
Enjoy!
You should be greatful, you thought. You should be greatful that you've graduated from law school with honors. You should be greatful that all your hard work finally payed off. You should be greatful that you have amazing friends and a boyfriend who's stuck with you every step of the way.
"You okay babe?" Ruben diverged his eyes from the road to look at you. You sat in the passenger seat of his car dressed in your graduation gown and a law school diploma clenched between your hands.
"I'm fine." You said, realizing that you hadn't heard your own voice since you stepped on the stage to thank your professors. "Just tired."
Ruben nodded. "We're almost home. I'm just gonna pick up somthing for us to eat."
Despite the many things to be greatful for in your life, there was still a sense of emptiness. A void that couldn't be filled nor replaced by any other being than your parents.
"Ruben?" You asked, voice low.
He turned to you again, keeping a slight eye on the road ahead "Yes?"
"Could we make a stop at Terrace Road?"
He raised a brow. "You sure?"
You nodded. "I'll be quick."
Terrace Road was one of the rougher neighborhoods in the city, where people like drunks, addicts and criminals roamed the streets.
"Dad?"
Your dad was one of them, he was one of those people casted out of society.
"Dad?"
Ruben dropped you off in front of a run down building, it's main attraction was the bar located at the corner of it. The bar was partly empty when you entered, your dad however, had a seat reserved for him at the bar.
"D/N?"
His hunshed back figure shifted as you called him by name. Many heads were already turned your way after walking into the bar, high heels and dressed in full graduation attire.
"I tried sending you an invitation." You said, waving your diploma for your dad to see, however, he wasn't there. You recognized the eyes looking back at you but the man you once called dad was long gone, devoured by depression and drowning in alcohol.
"Your landlord said you moved tho. Where did you move to?"
You took the seat next to him in the bar. This reminded you of your last visit with your father. That was three years ago. He had been unresponsive back then too.
"I went to the cemetery." You said, pausing, to see his reaction. It was nothing though. He had stopped looking at you and kept his eyes ahead of him, distant from reality, gone forever.
"It looks nice, thier graves." You wiped a tear that had run down your cheek. "Do you go to see them sometimes?"
This summer would be exactly ten years since you lost your mother and little brother in a tragic car accident. Your dad had been driving them home after a walk along River Medlock. They were on their way to pick you up from football training. You remember that day as one of your worst, because no one ever came to pick you up from training and no one ever would again. About five years post the tragic event your dad started seeking comfort in alcohol. A part of you blamed your self for this because that was around the time you went away to law school.
"Dad?"
It was to no use. Perhaps he had forgotten the sound of your voice altogether. The only parent you had was gone but not dead. For some reason you saw no difference in that.
"Dad, I'm going now." You stood. Perhaps this would be the last time you'd come to visit. It was getting to painful to do it.
"Whatever he needs, give it to him." You said, handing the bartender a bundle of cash. She gave you a sympathetic smile, pocketing the money.
You turned your heels, ready to walk out of your father's life forever, when...
"Your mother..." He said.
You didn't dare to turn your back and look at him, however, that was his voice.
"Your mother would be proud." He said, words clear as day to you, but perhaps inaudible to anyone else in the bar.
Your lips trembled. "Thank you."
Picking up your steps, walking out of the bar.
You remember crashing into something warm and solid, Ruben, who stood waiting for you by his car. He could have said I told you so, he could have said that coming back here was a stupid idea, but all he did was hold you, letting you cry in his arms.
You came home and took a bath. Ruben had bought all your favorite foods from a local restaurant that you loved, however you had no appetite, all you wanted was for this day to be over, a day you would remember that no matter how much you achieved in life there was no one left in your family to witness it.
"Look what I found."
You left the bathroom with a towel wrapped around your head. You paused on your way to your bedroom, seeing Ruben on the floor, an old vinyl record in his hand.
"What is it?" You frowned.
Ruben always had a thing for collecting old records. Somthing you learned after the two of you first got together.
"It's Ella Fitzgerald." He said, holding up the vinyl disc. "Let's listen to her."
"Ruben I don't..."
You were really not in the mood. Usually you would love listening to his old records and dance around the living room. But right there, right now, all you wanted to do was go to bed.
"Stars shining bright above you..."
Then a wonderful voice sparked through the record player, capturing your heart in an instance.
"Night breezes seem to whisper I love you..."
"She's good, no?" Ruben stood from the floor and approached you.
"Birds singin' in the sycamore trees..."
"Yes." You said, taking the hand that Ruben was offering you.
"Dream a little dream of me...."
He pulled you close and started swaying you around the living room.
"Say "Night-ie night" and kiss me
Just hold me tight and tell me you'll miss me..."
"I'm proud of you, you know that right?"
"For graduating. Thank you." You allowed your head to rest against his shoulder.
"Dream a little dream of me...."
"No." He chuckled. "For still thinking of your family, wanting to visit them."
"I don't have a family." You muttered.
"Stars fading but I linger on, dear...."
Ruben pulled you back with a surprised look in his eyes. "No? What am I then?"
"Ruben." You sighed. "You're...You're..."
"Yes?"
"Still craving your kiss..."
"What she said."
"What?"
The voice of Ella still belted out around you, filling the apartment with a sense of peace and love.
"You're my home Ruben. My only home."
"Y/N." He pulled you close, your head surrendering to his comforting shoulder.
"Say I'm your home too." You said, hands digging into the hem of his shirt.
"Your my home." He whispered. "My everything and my home."
Slowly he swayed your body to the music, you sniffles muffled up against his shoulder. Life wasn't perfect but with Ruben it was good enough to go on.
"Sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you
But in your dreams, whatever they be
Dream a little dream of me...."