The Moment it Ends
Michael as his name suggests had a very normal life. As a single child borne to middle class he worked hard to support his parents. Always finishing his text books in summer before the school started. His dedication consistently earned him a spot in the top five ranks on the school board. As his class increased, he started tutoring his underclassmen to earn money and lessen the financial burden on his parents. Though not outwardly active he had a steady stream of friends with various social cliques. It may have been attributed to his warm and calming aura. Being a teenager in high school opened his eyes to new world of physical attraction and the complexity of relationships and emotions that came with it.
Michael possessed a square face with a well-defined jawline, a prominent Roman nose, and naturally pink lips. His almond-shaped blue eyes were complemented by soft, wavy black hair that cascaded gracefully, giving him an almost elf-like aura. He stood at a height of 5 feet 9 inches. Despite his no interest in pursuing relationships, his first kiss had been a girl from his chemistry class. Just as any first's would go the kiss was wet and cold. By the time he was in college, he had come to the realization that he did not have a preference for women, based on his experiences with his past flings. Not daring to come out to his parents and disrupt the household's normalcy he buried himself into his studies. Choosing Business as his major he graduated at the top of the collage.
After getting his degree he toiled day and night in a minor about to bankrupt company dedicating his youth to such endeavour. Maintaining his personal life with his professional life took a toil on him. After accomplishing much in his field from employee to employer, he began to long for some warmth in his bleak cold life. Dating and flings could only do much. Gradually the hope in his eyes became less frequent. Micheal resigned to his fate of finding some one who he could love from the depth of his soul, after going date after dates. Unaware of the truth troubling their son, his parents, upon observing his persistent moroseness, concluded that marrying him off before he turned into an old bachelor of thirty six, would be the best course of action.
Despite his parents forcing him to marry a women of respectable creed he could not from the bottom of his marry a woman. Despite resigning himself to the idea that he may never find his true love, he couldn't bring himself to settle for someone he could not get it up and giving them grand children seemed like a thrilling alternative... not. He could no bear to live in facade. So he did what he had to do. Finding a child to be a guardian for- what a brilliant way to drop a bombshell on his parents, who, of course, showered him with their most grateful heavy glares and tongue-lashings for neglecting to mention his decision to avoid matrimony while embracing guardianship. They were reluctant to accept the boy, but few puppy eyes from the child melted their wanting-a-grand-baby-hearts.
Although it initially kicked off as a guardian-ward relationship, he couldn't fathom his life without the little tyke. The twelve-year-old kid had melted his heart with his razor-sharp wit, silly smiles of joy, furrowed brows in deep thought, and that endearing nervous habit of twisting his fingers whenever he did something stupid. He could feel tendrils of warmth seeping into his soul whenever he thought of his little Cookie, much like when he prepared meals for his loved ones and watched with a smile as they devoured every last bite. With how much he like to cook and feed people his friends had a gathering day every month once to enjoy his food. The guardian-ward relationship didn't last long, as the only remaining parent of the child left the world. Before he knew it, the boy had become a permanent fixture in the lives of everyone around Michael. Cookie would affectionately call Michael his favorite person and lovingly refer to him as his gentle and caring dad.
Soon Cookie became Olie James Ashford, it was safe to say that Michael didn't get much sleep for the following days due to sheer delight and had a goofy grin plastered on his face. Now newly christened dad and son, Michael and Ollie James Ashford, or simply "Ollie," embarked on a journey of laughter, love, and endless adventures. Their days were filled with playful antics and mischievous pranks, and Michael couldn't help but marvel at Ollie's boundless curiosity and infectious enthusiasm for life. As the years passed, Michael's once-quiet home was now a place brimming with joy.
Ollie grew into a bright and spirited young man, often experimenting with his culinary skills, just like his doting dad. In addition to his knack for cooking, he inherited a massive shelf of comics featuring Marvel, DC, and other beloved productions. Ollie also shared his father's passion for Marvel movies, and together, they eagerly awaited each new cinematic release, discussing theories and plot twists well into the night.Their shared interests only strengthened their bond, creating a unique and unbreakable connection between father and son. As Ollie pursued his dreams and ventured into the world, he carried with him not only the culinary wisdom passed down by his dad but also the cherished memories of their countless adventures together.
Michael couldn't have been prouder of the remarkable young man Ollie had become, and their home remained a hub of laughter, shared stories, and the aromatic delights of Ollie's culinary experiments. Micheal passed all his knowledge and his assets to his only son. Always staying by Ollies side as he passed and failed a number of times in his endeavours. Their bond deepened with each passing day, and Michael couldn't imagine life any other way. While he may not have found the love he initially sought, he realized that the love he had for Ollie was as precious and fulfilling as the love he still yearned for.
At the time of his passing, Michael was surrounded by his friends and family, his face etched with the marks of age and experience. Having fully embraced the joys life had to offer, he found himself remarkably content. Yet, a persistent ache lingered in his heart, a void that not even his beloved son could fill. With the lingering sensation of heartache he left the world, still yearning to find someone who could ease his pain. Fully aware of his dad's love for him, Ollie understood that his father held a special place in his heart, one reserved for the love Michael had not found in his own life. But he wanted his father to find his Amour Propre even if it took him an another life time.