Chapter 15
My father’s old cassette stayed in Evan’s possession.
Not mine.
His.
One day he brought it to the council room.
Not for a meeting.
Just us.
He sat in his old chair.
“I think I’m done with this.”
“The cassette?”
“The chair.”
I looked at him.
“You’ve already been gone a year.”
“I know.”
He smiled.
“But part of me still thinks leaving means they won.”
Interesting.
Mara.
Carlo.
Derek.
All told him departure proved weakness.
So even choosing freedom felt contaminated.
“What do you want?”
“I want not to care what they think.”
I laughed.
“That takes longer.”
He rolled his eyes.
“Helpful.”
Then he asked me something unexpected.
“If I never come back to council, are you disappointed?”
Truth.
A little.
I loved having him there.
Trusted him.
Liked seeing my brother across the table.
But that was my desire.
Not his duty.
“Yes.”
He stared.
Then I continued.
“And I’ll survive.”
He smiled.
That answer relieved him more than a lie would have.
He removed his old Bellini council ring.
Placed it on the table.
Not returning it.
Just looking.
Then put it back on his finger.
“What?”
I asked.
“It’s mine.”
Fair.
A ring did not have to represent a chair.
We had spent too many generations letting objects decide meaning.
Evan stood with the prosthetic attached.
Then removed it again because the socket bothered him.
No embarrassment.
No apology.
He left the council room carrying it in one hand.
My father had said:
May you like
Let the boy sit, stand, leave, stay.
Finally.
