On a hot summer afternoon, Kevin finds himself lying in his bed, lost in thought. Kevin now lives in a rundown apartment and eats two meals a week. Life after stardom wasn't kind to him. Now, he survives only by working part-time and doing odd jobs for quick cash. He's been in bed since morning. He hasn't eaten or showered. Looking to his side, he takes a glimpse at the time on the clock.
"5:30," he mutters to himself.
It wouldn't have mattered what time it was—he wouldn't have gotten up anyway.
A couple of hours later, Kevin is nearly falling asleep, weakened from his lack of eating. However, just before his eyes close, he gets a call. Kevin questions whether or not he cares enough to pick up, but he doesn't want to hear the ringing. So he answers.
"Hello, is this Mr. Qiau?"
"Yes, this is him," Kevin replies, desperate to end the call. "Can I help you?"
"Well, sir, I'm sorry to say this but…" the person on the line mutters. Kevin can hear the person take a deep breath.
"Well, what is it?" Kevin says in a disgruntled tone.
"Your parents, Qín and Li Qiau, have passed away."
An awkward silence fills the room. Kevin didn't know what to do with what he had just heard. After all, the last time he had talked to his parents was seven years ago—before he left his home in Qiawu, China. His father had forbidden him from going to America to pursue boxing, as he saw the sport as a waste of time. Kevin could still remember what his father had said to him then.
"You will not go to America!" Mr. Li said then. "You have a home here with your family."
"There's nothing for me here!" Kevin had retaliated. "But in America I can be somebody—a real boxing star!"
Kevin remembered the hurt on his father's face as he said those words.
"Nothing for you here!?" Mr. Li yelled. "What about your mother? What about your siblings or friends, or your grandfather? Are they not enough for you?!"
Kevin had looked his father in the eyes and hesitated before responding. "No."
Mr. Li's hurt had quickly turned into a blinding rage. Kevin vividly remembered his father's gaze, as if he were looking at someone who wasn't his son. Before Kevin could react, his father had punched him in the face as hard as he could. Kevin remembered being disoriented before getting back to his senses. Kevin and his father stared at each other, at a loss for words. He remembered holding his face and his father, shocked at himself for what he did, still holding up his fist.
"Son, I—"
Kevin didn't want to hear it. He grabbed his things, opened the door, and ran out. His father quickly followed, yelling after him to stop, while Kevin kept on running to the airport for his scheduled flight. As he passed his friends' houses, parks he played in as a kid, and restaurants he loved eating at—piece by piece, he was leaving it all behind, physically and mentally. Without paying attention, Kevin crashed into his mother and sister, who were out getting groceries, and all three of them fell back due to the impact. Kevin quickly picked up his things and looked at his mom and sibling one last time before quickly running off. Mr. Li stopped to help his wife and daughter, letting Kevin get in for Mr. Li to follow.
"Mr. Qiau, are you there?" the man on the phone said.
Kevin snapped back to the present.
"I know this is horrible news, and I never li—"
"What happened to them?" Kevin said, cutting the man off.
"Mr. Li died in a car crash, and his wife, already sick and bedridden, died shortly after hearing the news."
Kevin didn't know his mother was sick; hearing this, he thought about how long he had been away and all that had happened in his hometown. What about his sisters or old friends?
"Well, thank you for letting me know," Kevin said, nearly whispering.
"There's one more thing," the man on the line continued.
"It seems they have left some things for you in their will."
Kevin was dumbfounded. He couldn't believe something was left for him and was at a loss for words.
"I don't have the files on hand, so I cannot give details. However, if you want to know more and collect what's left for you, come see me in my office. I'll have the address texted to you if you decide to come."
"I- I see. Thank you for letting me know," Kevin said.
After hanging up the phone, Kevin didn't know what to think. He couldn't believe his parents left something for him, nor did he want to know what it was. He lay back in bed and slowly started to doze off. The heavy news he heard stayed in the back of his mind until he fell asleep.
Kevin woke up early the next day. His lack of eating from the day before didn't do wonders for his body, and he woke up in a horrible mood. He made his way to the fridge.
"Fuck, there's nothing in here," Kevin groaned. He hadn't been out of the house in nearly two weeks, meaning he hadn't had the chance to pick up groceries.
"Welp, I might as well go," Kevin whined.
Kevin lazily did his hair, dragged himself out the front door, and made his way to the store.
As Kevin made it to a more populated part of the city, he put his hood up and put on his sunglasses—he would hate to be noticed by anyone. A part of him was afraid of people bringing up his old past, while another part doubted anybody would care about who he was—or, better yet, who he used to be.
Kevin quickly bought everything he needed from the store, and as he was leaving, he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. It was a text from the man on the phone yesterday.
"Here's the address, you're welcome to drop in anytime," the text read. Kevin had no intention of seeing this man. However, against his better judgment, he opened the message and saw the address listed.
"No fucking way," he whispered to himself.
He looked at the address plate on the building in front of the grocery store, then looked back at the address listed.
"Fucking hell, they're the same!"