67 - A broken child

The sun went down and the moon took over the sky when Katlyn couldn't resist it any longer, she dialed the phone number she had on a business card, one that her friend, who had endured her constant crying over her husband's indifference, had given her, recommending a private investigator, the one she herself had used for her own marriage.
The blonde had kept the card just "Just in case", she hadn't thought of using it a few months ago, she really didn't believe him capable of doing something like that to her, but the Sebastian she knew, the obedient one who was blinded by love for her no longer existed. He was hiding something and although it pained her to discover the truth she could not stand by and do nothing.
The man, who was an expert in catching unfaithful husbands, had no trouble investigating Sebastian's movements. Claiming that "Men are not usually very good at hiding their secrets" and indeed he was right.
-He went into an apartment in a nice building in the center of the city, but he hasn't come out yet," she had told him over the phone.
-Stay there until he comes out! No! Climb out the window, even if it's a thousand stories high, but find out who he's with!
-Yes, ma'am," the detective replied calmly, accustomed to such dealings.
Katlyn kept her attention on the phone, she couldn't do or think of anything else until she knew the truth.
Helena didn't know how long she had been crying against Sebastian's chest, but little by little the tears dried and the hiccups calmed down, until it was a slow and relaxed breathing.
The redhead wiped away the last drops with the sheet and climbed out of her lover's chest.
-How are you feeling?
-Much better," she admitted.
Sebastian sighed in relief and brushed away the red locks that had stuck to his secretary's face.
-Thank you for telling me, it means a lot to me," he exclaimed softly.
-Now you know everything about me," smiled the redhead shyly, with a hint of sadness.
And it was true, the young woman had been sincere with him, she had had the courage to tell something so painful out loud, and that was something to admire, since for him, talking about his feelings had always been his weakness.
-Listen Hel..." he began to say, feeling nervous, "Maybe this is not the time to talk about me, but I feel that I should also be honest with you.
Helena took her boss's hands warmly.
-You can tell me anything you want, as long as you feel comfortable.
-I never felt this with anyone, but with you I feel I can be myself.....
The redhead smiled broadly at him, encouraging him to talk.
The young CEO sighed heavily, feeling his heart pounding hard in his chest.
"Who said telling our deepest secrets was an easy task?"
Your throat closes up, you feel cold sweat and your whole body convulses from fear. They are simple words, but they carry a pain that you carry in silence for a long time.
-I... am sterile.
Helena was silent for a moment, watching her boss's embarrassed face.
-That's what I imagined when you were looking for an heir- she exclaimed softly, not wanting to offend him- It was either you or it was Katlyn.
-Katlyn thinks she's the one with the problem," he admitted embarrassed.
-I'm sorry Sebas... it must be painful to have the possibility of being a father taken away from you.
-No. You just don't understand. ....
The CEO bit his lower lip hard.
Here came the truth and there was no turning back.
-I did this to myself.
-I don't understand...
-As soon as I came of age...- the young man rubbed his sweaty hands nervously- I knew I had to make a decision and...- he swallowed heavily- I asked a doctor to perform the procedure on me- Sebastian closed his eyes for a moment, heavily releasing his breath- I had a vasectomy at the age of 18.
The atmosphere was silent again, just as it was when Helena was finally able to confess her most painful secret.
The young secretary simply couldn't understand how a boy of only 18, who had his life ahead of him, could make a decision that had no turning back.
-But... Why?" she asked worriedly, "If I may ask... it's just that you were very young.
-But it wasn't something hasty, it was something I had decided a long time ago, I just waited until I came of age so my father wouldn't know.
-He never knew?
-No," she said dryly, "He died without knowing.
-I'm so sorry.
-There's nothing to be sorry about, Helena," she laughed, blinking several times, trying to keep the tears from falling down her cheeks, "If I did it... it was because I didn't want to be like my father.
Helena could feel the pain in Sebastian's words. She saw how he struggled not to cry, and she didn't blame him, for a man like him crying should not be an easy thing to do.
-He was not a good man Helena... I never understood why, but for as long as I can remember he never loved me....
-Sometimes they are just evil, without application.
Sebastian nodded sadly, suddenly feeling like a child again.
-While my mother was alive, he stayed away from me and my brother, but when she died we had no one to protect us.
Sofia between his hand with Sebastian's hand and squeezed.
-I... I didn't want my father to beat Alan, my younger brother, too," Helena nodded, remembering perfectly well who Alan was, "I always stood in front of him to protect him.
-Fuiste a good brother, you take care of him as the older brother you were.
-Yes, we were inseparable as children- she smiled with melancholy- He never left my side, then he changed...- his face turned somber in front of Helena's eyes- one day he stopped treating me as his big brother and started treating me with contempt, I never gave it a thought, I just wanted him not to suffer as I had, although my father had always been less demanding with him than with me. For me it was well withstand the demands of my father if Alan did not have to do it. But when he died daddy, Alan I heard even more. In the will he had left almost everything to me, I never understood why and I guess I'll never know, because he took it to his grave... and my brother never forgave me for it.
-I'm sure that one day Alan will realize what you did for him and he will thank you for it," Helena encouraged him, although she really didn't like Sebastian's younger brother at all.
-Maybe he did, but with time you stop caring... he was a crybaby, you know? - he laughed melancholic - he used to throw tantrums for everything, he was a spoiled child.
-I can imagine that," laughed the redhead amused.
They both laughed, until there was nothing more to laugh about.
Helena looked sideways at Sebastian's sad face and bit the inside of her cheek helplessly.
-If it is any consolation..." she began to say, stroking his hand affectionately, "You are not like your father, you are a good man Sebastian.
The young heir lifted his hurt face and the redhead could see in his black eyes the little boy, scared and hurt, and how no one had ever told him that he would not be like his father.
Helena felt so much pain as she imagined a young Sebastian doing the procedure for fear of beating his own children and repeating what seemed to be a family curse.
She wanted the power to travel back in time and hug him tightly, she felt that young Sebastian had lacked so much affection.
But she couldn't.
What she did have, was a grown and hurting man in front of her.
Helena pounced on Sebastian and hugged him tightly.
-You're not like him, do you understand? Don't ever let that cross your mind again, you're going to be a good father, the best.
Sebastian stood in shock, his arms wide open, tears streaming down his blue eyes. Slowly and fearfully, he wrapped his arms around Helena's body and held her tightly, beginning to cry inconsolably.
Now it was his turn and Helena was going to be there until he wanted to stop crying.
-Yes, very well, cry all you want, release that pain- she whispered in his ear, letting the man lean on her shoulder and wet it with his tears accumulated for years- You are a good man Sebastian- she repeated over and over again.
After a long time of heart-rending crying, Sebastian finally regained his composure, pulling away from Helena.
-I'm sorry," he apologized embarrassed, it was the first time he cried like that and in front of someone.
-Don't apologize," she exclaimed warmly, "Are you all right?
Sebastian nodded like a little boy.
-It feels good to talk things over," admitted the CEO.
-Yes, you can say that again.