Chapter 107: Alex’s Backstory
...
The interior of the luxury SUV was silent. Von drove for twenty minutes, passing the skyline of downtown Miami, until he found a quiet, empty stretch of parking overlooking the dark waters of Biscayne Bay.
Von put the car in park and killed the engine before unbuckling his seat belt and turning to look directly at Alex.
Alex stared out the passenger window at the black water, unfazed by the sudden detour.
"Why are you here, Alex?" Von asked in a low voice.
"You offered
a feature contract," Alex replied evenly, not looking away from the window. "I signed it, so I’m here to record."
"No," Von shook his head, not even sounding angry. "You’re not here to sing. You’re not even interested in this single. What’s the problem?"
"Huh? What do you an?"
"Why are you like this? You seem so off every ti we work. Is there a problem?"
Alex looked away. "I’m fine."
"No, you’re not. I don’t believe you’re fine," Von said flatly. "Sothing is bothering you and I want to know."
Alex hesitated for a while but then said, "I’m not ready for this. I’ll call an Uber if you’re not taking
to the hotel."
Von sighed and rested back against his chair. If he was only seventy percent sure before, seeing Alex’s reaction now made him fully sure that the boy was hurt.
"I can tell you’re hurt," Von told him. "And acting like you don’t care won’t help you, trust ."
Alex snapped at that mont. "I didn’t tell you I needed help!"
Von insisted, raising his own voice even higher. "Yes, you need help. You really need help. Now, tell . I might be that help you need."
Alex frowned. He was about to say nothing, but for so reason, Von’s persona was making him react. He didn’t know why, but it was like Von’s presence was compelling him to let himself out. He felt comfortable enough to finally break.
Alex raised his voice. "Okay, you think you can help everyone, right? You think you can do everything? Okay, help . Bring my parents back, then! Bring my sister back!"
Von’s frustration lted hearing Alex scream with so much emotion. As a fellow orphan, Von could very well relate, and he could easily imagine what it would feel like if he didn’t have Nana around .
"Sorry..." Von said lightly.
That simple apology instantly made Alex regret letting his secrets out. He tried to close himself off again, but he couldn’t hold it back anymore.
"My parents had
when they were just in high school," Alex started, his voice dropping as he stared at the dashboard. "The pressure was too much, and they had to drop out. They were treated like outcasts and had no one there for them. So, my dad found so work, and with barely any support, they moved down here to Miami. They managed to raise
and my twin sister by themselves."
Von listened quietly.
"But my dad took a construction job," Alex said. "He fell. Since it was off the books, we got nothing. My mom tried to keep us afloat, but she got pneumonia and died on our couch. So it was just
and my sister, Ellie. We got thrown into the foster system,"
"Then she got sick... Cancer. No one could help us and the state didn’t care. I tried to take up jobs. I even began stealing, but it just wasn’t enough to pay for anything that mattered. I had to watch her die right in front of , unable to do a thing,"
"I laid on the sa bed with her body for days," Alex continued with an empty voice. "When they finally found us, I attempted to commit suicide. I just wanted it to be over. But I got saved by a young couple who took
in."
Tears started falling down his face.
"They treated
well. They even put
in therapy, but I still felt hollow. And just when I thought I was finally recovering, life decided it was just getting started. Death took the couple in a car accident. Their life insurance payout is what got
my apartnt. I live off their money, and the guilt lives with
every day,"
"I applied for Project: Star because I promised Ellie I would... I used to sing for her when she was sick. I promised her I’d make it. But it didn’t matter. I lost anyway."
He looked at Von with tears still on his face.
"I promised the couple that adopted
that I wouldn’t attempt to take my own life again. But I know I don’t need to. I’m just waiting for that day to co when I finally leave this fucked up life."
Hearing his story and seeing Alex who was known for being cold and indifferent cry like this broke Von’s heart. He felt sad, more than he had felt in a long ti.
Von knew exactly what it ant to lose one’s parents that early, but Alex’s story was even more tragic. He tried everything, but life just didn’t give him a chance. No wonder he felt numb.
Von reached over and pulled him into a hug, letting Alex rest his head on his shoulder.
"Sorry..." Von said, patting his back. "That’s really painful. I’m glad that you trusted
enough to tell ."
Alex’s weeping didn’t stop for a few minutes. "I apologize if I behaved rudely to your work," he said quietly. "I can refund your advance if you wish."
Von shook his head imdiately. "That’s the least of my worries now. I’m more concerned about you."
Von took a deep breath, looking out at the water.
"You know what, forget about the song. My album will be fine without your feature. You said your parents and sister were buried right here in Miami. It’s the sa with my parents. Since you’re over here... how about we go visit them tomorrow."
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