Chapter 1

Here I am, in the dead of night, dragged out of bed by my dad for some mysterious adventure. You'd think it's USJ or Disney Sea, but nope, it's the middle of nowhere, a forest to be precise, to hunt deer of all things.

As I trudge along behind my dad, he's all serious, like he's on some important mission. His eyes dart around, taking in every detail of our surroundings. The air is chilly, and the trees sway gently in the breeze.

Honestly, what was he thinking? He's hardly been around, off doing who knows what, and now he wants to bond over deer hunting? It's like he's trying to connect with me, but in the most bizarre way possible.

I know I should make an effort to understand him, to bridge the gap between us. He's not all bad; he does provide for me, even if it's just with material things. But seriously, a midnight trek through the forest with a rifle? That's not my idea of quality family time.

"Hey, Dad," I spoke up, breaking the silence as we trudged through the woods. "Mind telling me why we're out here in the middle of nowhere at 3 in the morning?"

My dad glanced over his shoulder, his expression unreadable in the dim light. "Thought it'd be nice to spend some quality time together, away from the hustle and bustle of the city," he replied, his tone surprisingly calm.

I raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "Quality time, huh? Is this your idea of bonding, hunting deer in the middle of the night?"

He chuckled softly. "Well, you're not wrong. But trust me, there's more to it than that. Just wait and see."

Rolling my eyes, I trudged along behind him, the forest enveloping us in an eerie silence broken only by the crunch of leaves underfoot. 

After a few minutes of silence, I decided to break the ice. "Dad, you know, they made a movie about this. Bambi? Are we the hunters that shot Bambii's mom" I quipped, trying to lighten the mood.

He glanced at me, a faint glimmer of amusement in his eyes, but it quickly faded as he returned his attention to the forest ahead.

"Yeah, well, I promise not to shoot any moms today," he replied dryly, his attempt at a joke fell flat.

I sighed inwardly, after a few minutes of awkward silence. I decided to speak up again.

"Dad, seriously, why are we out here? I mean, couldn't we just play video games or something?" I grumbled, my frustration bubbling beneath the surface.

He glanced back at me, his expression unreadable. "Will, sometimes it's good to unplug and spend time in nature. It's... peaceful," he replied, his voice trailing off as he continued walking.

I rolled my eyes, resisting the urge to argue further. Peaceful? Yeah, right. It's not exactly peaceful when you're dragging your 12 year old son out of bed at the crack of dawn to wander around the woods.

As we trudged along, the silence between us grew heavier, punctuated only by the occasional rustle of leaves or the distant call of a bird. I stuffed my hands in my pockets, feeling a mixture of annoyance and disappointment. Why couldn't we just have a normal father-son relationship, like other people?

"Dad," I began, my voice softer now, "I get it, okay? I know you're trying to bond or whatever, but dragging me out here at this ungodly hour..." I sighed, frustration mingling with a hint of sadness. "I just wish we could connect without all this... wilderness stuff."

His gaze softened, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of vulnerability in his eyes. "Will, I know it's not easy," he started, his voice tinged with emotion. "I just... I miss her, you know? And I thought maybe... being out here, surrounded by nature, it might bring us closer together. Like it used to."

I swallowed hard, feeling a lump form in my throat. "Mom..." The word hung between us, heavy with unspoken longing and sorrow.

"Yeah," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "She loved going to the woods. She used to bring you here when you were little, remember?"

I nodded, maybe, just maybe, this could be a chance for us to heal together, to catch up after all those year to make up for lost time.

With a newfound sense of determination, I took a deep breath, meeting my dad's gaze with newfound understanding. "Okay, Dad," I said, a small smile tugging at the corners of my lips. "Let's make the most of this..."

And as we continued our trek through the woods, surrounded by the beauty of nature and the echoes of cherished memories, I knew that, in our own way, we were finally beginning to connect.

As we spotted the deer, my dad's eyes lit up with anticipation. He raised his gun, his hands steady as he took aim. Then, unexpectedly, he looked at me and motioned for me to take the gun, guiding my hands with his own.

I hesitated, my heart pounding in my chest. "Dad, are you sure?" I asked, feeling a surge of nervous energy coursing through me.

He nodded, a reassuring smile on his face. "You can do this, Will," he said, his voice calm and steady. "Just like I showed you."

Taking a deep breath, I steadied my grip on the gun, trying to ignore the butterflies in my stomach. "Okay, here goes nothing," I muttered, trying to summon the courage to pull the trigger.

But just as I was about to take the shot, a sudden realization hit me. "Wait," I blurted out, my voice cracking with uncertainty. "This is a bit early, don't you think? I haven't even had puberty yet."

My dad chuckled, a warm sound that eased some of my nerves. "You'll get there, Will," he reassured me, his hand resting gently on my shoulder. "But for now, just focus on the shot."

And with his encouragement ringing in my ears, I took a deep breath, steadied my aim, and prepared to take the shot, knowing that no matter the outcome, I had my dad by my side, guiding me every step of the way.

As the shot rang out in the forest, the deer fell to the ground, its body going limp. A mixture of shock and adrenaline surged through me as I stared at the scene before me, the reality of what had just happened sinking in.

My dad stepped forward, a proud smile on his face as he clapped me on the back. "You did it, Will," he said, his voice filled with genuine pride. "I knew you had it in you."

But as I looked down at the lifeless deer, a wave of conflicting emotions washed over me. Yes, I had hit the deer, but at what cost? The sight of the deer lying motionless on the forest floor stirred something deep within me, a sense of guilt and sadness.

"Dad," I began, my voice trembling slightly, "I don't think I'm cut out of this."

He looked at me, his expression softening with understanding. "It's okay, Will," he said gently, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "It's not easy, but it's part of life. We take only what we need, and we always respect the life we've taken."

I nodded, the weight of his words sinking in. Taking a deep breath, I tried to steel myself against the flood of emotions threatening to overwhelm me. After taking a huge breath.

We walked back to the car, with my dad carrying the door to the car. As we reached the car, my dad broke the silence. "You did well out there, Will," he said, his voice filled with a mixture of pride and reassurance. "I know it's not easy, but you showed courage and determination."

I nodded, offering a small smile in return. Despite my reservations, I knew that this experience had taught me something.

Together, we loaded the deer into the back of the car, the weight of its presence a solemn reminder of the choices we make and the consequences they entail. And as we drove away from the forest, we turned on the radio and cruised our way back to our house. 

As my dad was driving I couldn't help myself and asked him. "Hey, Dad, you know, I half-expected mutant squirrels to come charging out of the bushes at any moment," I quipped, trying to lighten the mood as we drove away from the forest. "I mean, with all the strange noises and eerie silence, it felt like we were in some kind of horror movie."

My dad chuckled softly, his eyes crinkling with amusement. "Mutant squirrels, huh? Well, that would certainly make things more interesting," he replied, a hint of warmth creeping into his tone.

"Yeah, I can just imagine it now," I continued, letting my imagination run wild. "Tiny little creatures with glowing eyes and razor-sharp teeth, plotting to take over the world one acorn at a time."

 After a few hours we arrived back home and loaded the deer at my dad"s workshop. I decided to take a bath and think about what happened the whole day. After a few minutes I dried myself out.

We then settled onto the couch, the soft glow of the TV illuminating the room, I check my DVD's, searching for something we could both enjoy. My dad leaned back, stretching his arms behind his head, a contented smile on his face.

"So, what are we watching tonight, Will?" he asked, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.

I grinned, scrolling through the titles. "How about that action movie you've been wanting to see? The one with the explosions and car chases?"

His eyes lit up. "That sounds perfect," he replied eagerly. "I've been waiting to watch that one with you."

With a nod of agreement, I selected the movie, and soon the screen was filled with adrenaline-pumping action scenes and heart-stopping stunts. We cheered and laughed together, caught up in the excitement of the film.

As the movie reached its climax, I glanced over at my dad, his eyes glued to the screen, a childlike look shining in them. In that moment, I realized just how much I cherished these simple moments with him.

Eventually, the credits rolled, signaling the end of the movie. But neither of us moved.

"You know, Will," my dad said softly, breaking the comfortable silence, "I really enjoyed watching that with you."

I smiled, feeling a warmth spread through me. "Me too, Dad," I replied, reaching over to pat his shoulder. "It was nice just spending time together, you know?"

He nodded, his expression softening. "Yeah, it was," he agreed. "We should do this more often."

With a sense of contentment settling over us, we leaned back on the couch, allowing the familiar melodies of the TV to wash over us. And as sleep gradually overtook us, I couldn't help but feel grateful for these precious moments of connection with my dad, moments I would treasure forever.