Powerless (Book 1): Powerless (14 page)

They
both
sat
in
silence
for
a
minute
or
two,
or
what
seemed
to
be
that
long.
Philip
placed
his
hand
reassuringly
on
his
son’s
leg
and
began
to
talk.

“I
know
you
have
been
struggling
lately.
I
know
it’s
not
fair
on
you
to
be
carrying
the
burden
of
what
you
have
had
to
conceal
about
yourself
while
still
trying
to
fit
in,
but
I
have
been
doing
the
best
I
can
for
you.
I
am
not
as
equipped
to
deal
with
matters
of
delicacy
as
your
mother
was,
if
she
was
sitting
here
she
would
know
exactly
what
to
say
to
you.

You
know
she
bought
me
this
old
desk,
when
we
got
it
the leg
was
already
broken
off;
it
was
the
best
worst
present
I
have
ever
received,
if
that
makes
sense.
When
I
look
at
you,
I
see
her.
I
see
her
every
time
and
it
kills
me
to
know
you
are
struggling.
I
know
that
I
can't
help
you
as
I
should.
I
tried
to
prepare
you
to
deal
with
anything
the
world
can
throw
at
you
physically
and
mentally,
but
maybe
I
lacked
showing
you
how
to
deal
emotionally.
I
find
it
hard
to
show
those
things.
Your
mother
could
just
look
at
me
and
she
would
know
exactly
how
I
felt.
She
would
draw
out
my
emotions
as
well
as
her
own...”

Philip
paused
for
a
second
to
clear
his
throat and
wiped
away
some
tears
that
had
begun
to
gather
in
his
eyes.
Lee
kept
his
face
turned
downward
so
as
to
not
make
his
father
self-conscious
of
the
situation.
Instead
just
listening
as
his
father
spoke
on.

“The
day
you
were
born
my
whole
life
got
thrown
on
its
head.
Joey
and
I
had
plans,
but
they
were
ruled
out
that
day.
When
she
left,
she
gave
me
one
final
gift.
That
was
you,
son.
With
her
last
breath
she
gave
you
your
name...”

Lee
raised
his
head
slightly on
hearing
this.
He
had
never been told
this
story
before and continued
to
listen
to
his
father.

“Sorry
for
asking
you
to
carry
this
burden
alone,
but
it’s
something
you
must
do,
for
your
own
safety
and
protection.
I
might
have
been
wrong
in
the
way
I
raised
you,
but
I
feel
now
as
I
did
then,
that
it’s
the
best
thing
for
you.
When
your
mother
passed
I
became
drained
of
all
outward
emotion,
it
doesn’t
mean
I
don’t
feel
everything
inside,
because
I
do.
I
am
just
not
strong
enough
to
show
it.
I
love
you
son,
I
don't
say
that
enough,
but
I
do
and
one
day
you
will
find
someone
who
will
make
you
feel
as
your
mother
made
me
feel.

Even
when
that
happens
I
want
you
to
be
very
careful
who
you
trust
with
your
secret.
Relationships
end
and
there
is
a
thin
line
between
love
and
hate.
If
your
secret
gets
out
you
will
be
in
inherent
danger
and
if
that
happens
you
will
need
an
exit
strategy.
I
am
proud
of
you
son,
so
be
careful
and
be
kind
to
yourself.
I
can
already
see
the
kind
of
man
you
are
becoming
and
I
am
nothing
but
proud...”

He reached
out
to
the
desk,
opened
a
drawer
and
took
a
handkerchief
out
,
wiping
his
eyes,
cleared
his
nose
and
stood
up
to
walk
away.
Halfway
across
the
room
he
turned
one
more
time
to
face
his
son.
“And,
Lee...”
Lee
didn’t
respond.
He just
turned
his
head
towards
where
his
father
was
standing
and
waited
for
him
to
continue,
“...Don't
skip
school
again.”
He didn’t answer, but nodded in acknowledgment.

As
his
father
left,
he
just
sat
there
and
reflected
on
what
had
just
happened.
Sitting
in
silence
he
once
again
flicked
through
the
photo
album
in
front
of
him,
not
so
much
looking
at
the
pictures
this
time,
but
rather
just
to
have
something
to
focus
on.
To
every
young
person
their
father
is
the
strongest
person
in
the
world
and
this
is
this
first
time
that
Lee
saw
his
father
not
as
a
man
with
superhuman
strength,
but
as
a
man;
a
normal
man
who
had
to
face
the
trials
and
tribulations
of
everyday
life
and
far
from
being
infallible
he
was
actually
quite
flawed.