THe Other Half

It was another night after a successful college test. However, just because you've succeeded physically, doesn't mean that you've done so emotionally. Stephen returned to his dorm room on the Boston campus. His roommate, Demetri, was at his desk. He turned around upon Stephen's entrance.

"Hey, so how were the results?" asked Demetri.

Stephen sighed. "Well, it was an A. Nothing special."

Demetri squinted his eyes in confusion. "I still don't get you man. Why aren't you happy with how your classes are going?"

"Look, I don't want to talk about. Haven't known each other that long and not too sure if I'll be sticking around honestly."

Stephen was a very skilled individual. He has been very good at the general subjects that the public school system teaches. His desires however, have been involving public performances. Stephen has shown to be a man with those types of skills as well. The challenge had been with his father.

Francis Favre, the father, was always against this. He felt that his son needed to focus on a career that involved desktop work. Stephen performed on stage back when he was a little kid. His father didn't support the activity continuing past elementary school. Francis continued control over his son, for the rest of his life.

Stephen, while not performing any longer, kept a continued connection to it in a way. He continued to attend the same school and classes with those he had performed with. One of those girls, declared early on, that she'd become a Broadway actress. He developed a crush on her and befriended her. However, once his father discovered this, he did everything he could to keep him away from her.

Francis truly took full control over his son's life. Stephen, due to his childhood, questioned many things about himself. He understood his general skills and physical aspects of himself. However, due to what became a nearly lifelong home entrapment, felt like he only truly knew half of who he was. Stephen had hoped that his time on a college campus would assist in figuring out who he truly was.

Stephen sat along the side of his bed. He contemplated what he should do. Stephen thought, “This time on campus doesn't seem to be helping me. Plus, I know this isn't a degree for a career that I'd actually be interested in. I don't think I belong here, but also have no interest in returning to that awful father of mine.”

The options did not last long. Stephen's cell phone rang. He picked up and discovered saddening news. His father had suddenly passed away. Stephen may have had issues with his father, but he still had feelings for him.

It had become the following Sunday, a few days later. Stephen didn't have to travel very far to get to the church. He grew up in one of Boston's neighboring towns. Stephen made a return to his childhood home first. He wished to grab his suit and tie from back there.

Stephen changed into black suit and tie, while he stood in front of the bathroom mirror. He did what he could to comb his light brown hair and gel the front into a curl upwards. His father never allowed this and always forced him to have the shortest haircut possible. He thought to himself, “Sorry Dad. While I know that this is in honor of your passing, perhaps this could become the true start in discovering who I am. Don't even have a clue who'd put this together for you.”

The church was lit brightly, both by the sunlight that came in, and natural candlelight as well. The Priest stood at the coffin. It was kept closed to everyone within. Stephen entered and was confused to discover this. He wished to question. However, Stephen arrived late and the service had started.

"Hello everyone, welcome and thank you all for attending. We are here sadly to honor the passing of Francis Favre. Prior to saying our words, about his time here at the church, does anyone amongst the audience wish to say any words about him?"

Multiple people took the stage. They were primarily neighbors and lifelong friends of his father. Did Stephen take the stage? He did not. Stephen wished to do so. However, he struggled to come up with a good positive speech about him.

The service came to an end. Stephen got up and joined the line for the goodbye tap of the coffin. He made sure to let those who commented about his father, to get in line before him. It became his turn. Stephen tapped the coffin, but then attempted to lift it open.

The Priest smacked his hand. "Hey now, what do you think you're doing?"

"I'm sorry," said Stephen. "I'm his son and wished to truly see him one last time."

"Ah, well obviously not the son we got in contact with. I'm sorry, but he requested that we kept the coffin closed for the service. This due to how damaged his body became."

Stephen's eyes went wide with shock. "How badly did his body get damaged? Wait... another son? Who in the world are you talking about--"

"Your brother right behind you."

Stephen turned around to a taller man with black hair and thin beard.

"Or should I say, your half-brother," the man continued.

Stephen couldn't believe his ears. "Wow, I umm... can't exactly recall him ever mentioning you to me?"

"Can't say that I'm surprised. The name's Drew by the way. Why don't we get together later on tonight, and get to know one another. I'm sure you'd want to spend some time with your mother, at the gravesite, after all of this."

"Thanks, but I don't have a mother. Lost her back when she gave birth to me. I've never really had a mother in my life. All I really had was our Dad."

"Wow, now I'd say that I'm surprised about that. He was a man that spent a lot of time with women. That is, short periods of time, like when he was with my mother. Drew expressed a little bit of anger with that last comment. "Anyways, I am going to be busy after this. But yes, let's get together tonight, you and I. What do you say?"

Stephen nodded his head. "Sure. I'll need to head back to campus afterwards. But let's still do so you and I." He turned away and thought to himself, “Yes, my brother and I.”