Hope

Hayden hadn’t experienced any hope for the last twenty years. He never saw any reason to. Things never worked out when he was hopeful something good would happen. Life hadn’t gone as well as he’d hoped for. It got progressively worse. To the point he lost all will to live. He was simply going through the motions. He’d worked in retail thinking that was as far as he’d get. Until his store closed. He found a job as a Dishwasher after that. His minimalistic life was the best he’d been able to do. He wanted nothing more than to leave the town that never loved him. He’d saved what he could. Life would happen that depleted his savings. Far too often for him to mentally handle. He stopped saving after a while as a result. He’d come to the conclusion he’d never be able to leave the toxic area he was living in. 

“I’ve hated it here most of my life” Hayden remarked
“There are some good things here” Riley replied
“Not for me there’s not. There’s nothing here for me. It’s a small town for older people settling down after all” Hayden retorted
“Yeah. Good point. But-” Riley began
“But nothing. I’ve WANTED out of here for the last few years. Life keeps happening that wipes out my savings. IF I’m able to get out of here I’m never looking back. I don’t even plan to help him after I leave” Hayden sighed
“Why not over to-” Hayden started to say
“No. Full stop. No. Yeah there’s more to do. It’s still not an area I want to be in. I’d rather be in a bigger city where there’s no shortage of things to do” Hayden answered 

Riley had realized just how depressed Hayden had been in the last year. She’d been his best friend for well over a decade. He’d seen Hayden go through more than others did. Things that most didn’t even know he was going through. Her short stature didn’t prevent her from doing things anyone else did. Her health issues prevented her from driving. His own health issues left him unable to drive as well. His Epilepsy mainly. Riley had begun driving in the last few months. She’d recently managed to get her Learner’s Permit. She was happy she was healthy enough to do so. Her health issues had improved enough to do so. She hoped to have her Drivers License in six months. Hayden’s mother died of an aortic aneurysm when he was a teenager. He’d spent the last twenty-three years without her. He’d lost more people as time went on. His trust issues increased when people did him wrong on top of that. He struggled to make new friends. He kept to himself after a while. The friends he did have helped him through everything. As best as they could anyway. All of whom became worried after a while. The few getaways he’d been able to go on helped. A break from the toxic environment he’d been forced to live in. Everyone knew it was 

Hayden had been living with his dad. An older man in his mid 70s with health issues he wasn’t dealing with. He wasn’t even listening to a few of his Doctors. He didn’t seem to want to help. Hayden stepped back as a result. It motivated him to save money again. To somehow get out and let his dad lay in the bed he made. Hayden knew his dad would face the consequences of his actions in the event he was able to leave. People didn’t see what Hayden saw. Hayden had been a buffer. It didn’t help that things weren’t apparent enough for people to notice. Not yet anyway. Hayden knew that would change after he left.  He’d begun applying for remote jobs through popular job sites. A firm looking for someone to fill a position on their Marketing team offered Hayden the position. They understood he didn’t have much experience. The little experience he did have came from doing some marketing for his current job at the restaurant to bring in business. He’d been successful in doing so. The firm was impressed with his work. They were willing to give him a chance after seeing the potential he had. Hayden immediately accepted the offer after a ten minute video interview. Riley, of course, was the first person he told. 

“For once I have hope for my future” Hayden sobbed
“I’m so happy you took that leap of faith” Riley answered
“I am also. I wasn’t scared to do it. I just thought nothing would come of it. Or that things wouldn’t go well and I’d still be stuck here” Hayden replied
“It looks like things are working out though. They’re willing to take that chance on you after all. Have you told him?” Riley said
“No. I don’t plan to either. Not until I have everything in order and packed everything up anyway” Hayden responded
“Wow, that’s-” Riley began
“I know. He’s lied and downplayed everything far too much. He doesn’t need to know everything going on in my life. Especially with this. He doesn’t deserve to know. He made his bed and needs to lie in it” Hayden remarked

Hayden had a newfound hope he’d hadn’t experienced in a long time. He finally saw hope for his future. He had enough savings to move to Miami Beach for a little while before moving up to New York. He’d already been paid for some of the work he’d done. On top of the little he’d saved from his Dishwashing job. He’d only kept that job to keep the illusion nothing else was going on. He’d donated everything he no longer wanted. Things he didn’t use or want long term anyway. He’d already packed everything else up before he donated everything. The only things he’d not packed were things he used every day. He’d given his two weeks by then. He told his dad several days later. 

“I wasn’t sure about anything that’s why I didn’t tell you” Hayden said
“You still should’ve told me” Adam replied
“I don’t HAVE to tell you everything. I am an adult after all” he retorted
“What about the-” Adam began
“I already gave them my two weeks' notice. I’m done after next Friday” Hayden said cutting him off
“Then you can stay elsewhere because I don’t want you here if you’re going to lie to me” Adam responded
“Fine by me. You’re one to talk. Not that you have any right to either way. You’ve lied to me all the time for the last twenty years. Unnecessarily lied to me not to mention downplaying all of your health issues. I’ve hounded you about getting things dealt with that need to be dealt with only for you to ignore what myself and doctors have said. You’ve made your bed. Time to lie in it” Hayden said before storming off to pack the few things he had left to pack

Hayden booked a hotel room near the closest train station and left for Miami Beach the next morning. He hadn’t hesitated to do so either. He’d let everyone know what happened before he left. He and Riley had gone to the Restaurant before going to the hotel letting Max know what was going on. To give his last few shifts to Constantine knowing she needed them. A request Max happily granted. He wasn’t surprised everything happened the way it did with Adam. Nobody was. He and Hayden knew this might happen. Hayden planned on texting Adam the PO Box he was going to open in Miami Beach so he could get his final check. Hayden thought back on the last few hours. He did the same the next day during the train ride. 

Three months passed before he moved to New York. To be closer to the Firm in case they needed him in person for anything. He’d lived in a month to month studio apartment. He loved the three months he lived in Miami Beach. He’d spent his days in a Cafe on the beach. He'd people watch for a while after he was done for the day. He’d roam around for hours on end. He’d kept to himself the entire time. He had no interest in making any friends. He wasn’t going to be in Miami Beach for long. It hadn’t taken him long to pack up the night before he left. He’d taken the entire day to do laundry and pack. He’d slept soundly knowing he was taking the train to New York. For a beginning. It didn’t take long for him to secure a studio apartment. He’d managed to do so days after moving to New York. He’d seen the “For Rent” sign outside the building while roaming around. It was the first step to him being in a more stable position in life. He’d moved in the day before he started his hybrid position at the Firm.