Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 |
Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Epilogue
Part 16
WHAT PART OF FOREVER
6 Years Ago
As Derek drives away from home, Derek-M finds himself engulfed in darkness. Voices come from every direction, as he turns in circles, listening to each one.
“Leave her, Derek.”
“Make her hurt.”
“Turn back.”
“Demand your respect.”
“Everything’s fine, go home.”
“You don’t really love her.”
“People who love someone don’t treat them like that.”
“Come with us, we’ll take care of you.”
Derek-M screams out, “AAAAHHH!” Turning in circles, grabbing his head, “Someone! Please! HELP!”
A voice arises, starting very softly and gradually getting louder, “Derek… Derek…”
Derek-M turns in circles, trying to find where the voice is coming from.
“Derek, my boy…”
He turns around and suddenly, there she is – Crisis.
“Mother!” He throws his arms around her.
She hugs him gently and then pulls back a little, looking him up and down, “Derek, my boy… my adorable boy, just as innocent as the day I first laid eyes on you.”
“No! You can’t say that! … I’ve done so many things wrong… I’ve hurt so many people I supposedly love… Why?… … No, no, you can’t say I’m innocent, because I’m not!”
“Oh but I tell you the truth… You are still innocent!”
“… … Those voices… so many… Ma…” He bursts into tears, crying out, “Ma, I don’t know what to do!”
Crisis-M pulls him in and holds him in her arms. “Don’t you worry, okay?… There are many voices that would take you in many, many directions… but really there’s ever only one voice worth listening to…”
“Which one?! I don’t know which one!”
“You won’t find it by being loud… Those other voices, they’re loud… afraid, angry, jealous… Those other voices, they demand sacrifice of the very things you hold dearest to you, they would have you throw away the love available to you right now, in exchange for the pursuit of some idea, some… illusion.”
“Then which voice is it that I should listen to?”
“The voice of your father…”
“Father?! I thought he was dead!”
“Dead? Your father is alive… He lives in you, my boy. Be still and let those other voices shut up. Only then will you find his voice, which is also your voice. You are your father’s son, and you are your father… And he has never given up on you, and he never will.”
Derek-M can only be humbled and silenced by his mother’s words.
“I have to go now… I love you Derek.”
As an invisible force slides them further apart, Derek-M reaches his arms out to her, “MOTHER!”
“Never forget! Your father lives in you, Derek! Find his light, which is your light, and follow it alone! And let that light shine, boy, LET IT SHINE!”
…
Back in the real world, Derek continues driving away from home, yet he senses this urge, this calling, to be still, to be quiet… inside. So he lets go of all those thoughts, all those worries, and silence begins to grow within him, like a warmth in his heart slowly getting warmer. And now… he hears something… well not exactly hears, more like he senses it, inside of him, a part of his very being, so close to him he wonders how he ever missed it before… “What are you doing?”
His heart seems to answer back, “I don’t know… I’ve got to get to that school! …”
“Yes… that’s always been the problem hasn’t it?”
“All those dreams!”
“Oh, Derek, those are about the things you can’t control, not the things you can control.”
“… Wait, what?… So I could turn back right now if I want to?”
“No one is telling you what to do.”
Derek exclaims aloud to himself, “No one is telling me what to do!” He slams on the brakes and pulls a U-ey. *Squirrrr* And he heads back home.
When he finally arrives at his apartment, he finds Sky still laying on his couch. He had hoped she would still be there.
“Sky! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m so, so sorry!”
She wipes the tears from her eyes and takes a minute to respond. Sniffling, “Me too… I love you Derek… so much… It hurt so bad when you left… I never thought it could happen.”
“I didn’t either… … … … I don’t want it to happen ever again… so… Sky…” He drops to one knee. “… Will you marry me?”
Without hesitation, “Yes of course!”
Of course, hugs and kisses ensue.
The jackal and cat are so happy together again, just like that day in the classroom… so free, so innocent… The music begins and the jackal sings1:
PlayRun run run away so lost lost never comin’
Home rollin’ rollin’ down a track
No no I’m never comin’ back
Pum-pum-pumpin’ in my veins
Our love I hope it’s not too late
That’s the road that’s the load that’s the role
I’ve been down I’ve been down I’ve been downWhat part of forever
Don’t you understandAnd I’ll stay stay stay
If that’s what you want want want
I’d give it to you you you
If I had a hea-hea-heart
And we can go go go
And never look back on now
I’d give it to you you you
If I had a hea-hea-heartRun run run away so lost lost never comin’
Home rollin’ rollin’ down a track
No no I’m never comin’ back
Pum-pum-pumpin’ in my veins
Our love I hope it’s not too late
That’s the road that’s the load that’s the role
I’ve been down I’ve been down I’ve been down downWhat part of forever
Don’t you understandAnd I’ll stay stay stay
If that’s what you want want want
I’d give it to you you you
If I had a hea-hea-heart
And we can go go go
And never look back on now
I’d give it to you you you
If I had a hea-hea-heartImagine eternity doesn’t seem that long
They say nothing lasts forever
We’ll have to prove them wrongAnd I’ll stay stay stay
If that’s what you want want want
I’d give it to you you you
If I had a hea-hea-heart
And we can go go go
And never look back on now
I’d give it to you you you
If I had a hea-hea-heart
1. Cee Lo Green – What Part of Forever
