‘ i forget sometimes how parents aren’t always good for their kids. ’
harvey glanced down at his glass . the whiskey was almost gone . two ice cubes clinked against each other , floating half-heartedly on what was left of his drink . all of these conversations ㅤ( those riddled with earnestness and other dangerous traps ) ㅤcould not happen without the aid of alcohol it seemed . dent glanced at the young man before him but he couldn't bring himself to look him in the eye when he spoke next . ㅤㅤ" i used to wish for my father to disappear . nine birthdays in a row , i blew those candles out and didn't ask for toys or games , nothing . leaving him was the best choice we ever made , my mom and i . " ㅤthe district attorney said , focusing on the two lonely ice cubes .
his voice had become hoarse throughout the day ㅤ--- ㅤdent couldn't help but notice that he now sounded similar to the voice in his head ; the one which would pitch in whenever harvey was lost in deep thought . a husky and gravelly voice which echoed in the depths of his cranium . it would always mock and bully and threaten but never heal . harvey could imagine the precise words it would say right now : 𝚂𝙿𝙰𝚁𝙴 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝚁𝙾𝙳 , 𝚂𝙿𝙾𝙸𝙻 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙲𝙷𝙸𝙻𝙳 , 𝙱𝙰𝙱𝚈 ! 𝙳𝙾 𝚆𝙴 𝚃𝙷𝙸𝙽𝙺 𝙱𝚁𝚄𝙲𝙴'𝚂 𝙱𝙴𝙴𝙽 𝚂𝙿𝙰𝚁𝙴𝙳 ? 𝚂𝙼𝙴𝙻𝙻𝚂 𝚂𝙿𝙾𝙸𝙻𝙴𝙳 𝚃𝙾 𝙼𝙴 , 𝙷𝙰𝚁𝚅 . 𝙱𝙴𝚃𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝙳𝙾𝚄𝙱𝙻𝙴 𝙲𝙷𝙴𝙲𝙺 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙴𝚇𝙿𝙸𝚁𝙰𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽 𝙳𝙰𝚃𝙴 𝙾𝙽 𝚈𝙾𝚄𝚁 𝙻𝙸𝙻' 𝙿𝙰𝙻 𝚃𝙷𝙴𝚁𝙴 𝙱𝙴𝙵𝙾𝚁𝙴 𝚂𝙾𝙼𝙴𝙾𝙽𝙴 𝙿𝚄𝚃𝚂 𝙰 𝚃𝚁𝙰𝚂𝙷 𝙱𝙰𝙶 𝙾𝚅𝙴𝚁 𝙷𝙸𝚂 𝙷𝙴𝙰𝙳 .
ㅤㅤharvey cleared his throat and pulled his coin out of his pocket . looking at it made the world feel quieter . ㅤ" you deserved a choice , bruce . " ㅤdent finally said , now looking wayne straight in the eye . ㅤ" being robbed of that the way you were ... it's the ugliest thing in the world . "
the district attorney sounded like he meant it . he had never had much sympathy for his father ㅤ--- ㅤbut harvey remembered the anguish that the mere thought of losing his mother had caused him as a child . to have to actually experience that , to never know who to blame for your pain , to have your trauma be of public knowledge ... dent exhaled through his nose . HE COULDN'T IMAGINE what that must have done to bruce . harvey placed his drink on the table . with his silver dollar in hand , he no longer felt the need for liquid courage .
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ" still , all things considered , i think we turned out fine . " harvey arched an eyebrow at his friend , eyeing him from head to toe . ㅤ" ㅤ---ㅤ more or less . " ㅤhe smiled . lightening the mood was always good . specially if it'd put an end to more vulnerable topics .