Excerpt: I Regret To Inform You

His father’s breath was growing shallower. The frail hands of their father clasped both of his sons’ hands tightly, struggling to hold on for just a little bit longer.
“Samuel, promise me.” The words could not seem to appear on the man’s lips, and his breath would not force them out if they had been there.
Samuel looked at Jonathan, who blinked at the expression of saddened pity he found on his brother’s face, and then turned back to his father.
“I promise, Father. I was wrong before.”
“You must not let anything happen to him, Samuel, no matter what my mother wants. Take care of him, don’t make him live…”
“I promise, Father!” Samuel’s voice was desperate, and he was clinging to the frail hand, “I have already taken care of it. He is going to sea as a midshipman aboard the H.M.S. Eclipse!”
Going to sea. No. Not the ocean. Not a ship.
“His mother died at sea, Samuel.” There was pain in the dying man’s eyes, begging his son to not be so cruel.
“It was the best I could do. I have not had much time. Not since our talk.”
Jonathan watched in stunned silence.
“He’ll be alright. In any case, its better that being thrown out into the streets, which is what Grandmother would prefer.”
“I understand. Thank you for trying.” The dying man struggled, looking at both of his sons, “I want you to know that I love both of you so much. And I love you equally, even if I didn’t love your mothers in the same way.
“I know.” They both said at the same time. The two brothers glanced at each other awkwardly.
“I see that you got your violin back, Jonathan. I am glad.” The man paused, “I remember picking that out with your mother. Even at that age you were already immersed in your music.”
Jonathan smiled, but the smile faded as he saw the life flowing swiftly out of his father.
“Play something for me please, Jonathan.”
“Yes Father.” He lifted the beautiful violin to his chin, closed his eyes, and let the music that had been welled up inside him gush out.
Waltzes and other things happy as he released again the joy of playing. Beautiful music that sang of happiness. Then he sensed suddenly that he did not have much time left. Something slow, sad, sweet came from the string, something to say goodbye in the language he loved the most. The tears rolled down his cheeks and he gritted his teeth, trying to convey his emotions through music, not tears. He was fourteen, too old for tears.
Sorrow. Rage. Hurt. They flowed from his heart to his hands, into the bow and through the strings, and into the air, emotions becoming rushing bittersweet melodies filling the dim, candle lit room and surrounding his mourning brother and the body of his father with all of everything he was feeling inside.
“William!”
Lady Avery ran to his father’s side. Jonathan’s music stopped ant the violin and bow hung loosely at his side. He tried to close his eyes, to deny the sight of his father not breathing, and his grandmother weeping over him as if the world had shattered. And could not be put back together again. He closed his eyes, because to open his eyes and accept the scene would admit that she was right, and that he never wanted to do. Because she was the one who was bringing about the end of his world, and she knew it very well.
“You.” It was only one word, but Jonathan had never known such menace before that moment and that one word filled him with absolute terror.
His eyes flew open to see her standing up, glaring at him with intense hatred seething though her eyes. She lurched forward, and slapped him hard.
He reeled, stepping backwards as she hit him again, out of instinct he lifted the arm holding his bow to protect his face.
“You little--” she grabbed the bow and reached for his violin.
“No!” he said, clutching his violin to his chest. “N-n-no! I am not letting you take it again. Samuel, please!” the moment he yelled his half brother’s name, he wondered why he had bothered, until he saw Samuel standing at his grandmother’s side, trying to guide her away, while taking Jonathan’s bow away from her grasp.
“Come on Grandmother, we can deal with this later.” He spoke soothingly, making his way to the door.
For a moment, it seemed to work. At the last second, she threw Samuel’s hand off her shoulder and spun back.
“That’s not going to work, Samuel Avery. You are only twenty; you have no say over my wishes. You’re not Lord Avery yet!” She yelled for the servants.
Three servant men came at her bidding.
“No!” he yelled, backing into a corner, bracing himself against the closest sturdy piece of furniture available in the darkened room, a tall dresser.
“Grandmother, please don’t!” for the first time in his entire life, Jonathan thought he saw love in Samuel’s eyes when they turned towards him.
“Get that boy out of the corner and follow me.” She ignored Samuel’s pleas, motioning the men forward, “Go on! Go on!”
Though the two servants that came with pity in their eyes, they came none the less. In the end, the confrontation came down to him going willingly or forced out and losing his grip on the violin.
“All right! I’ll come!” one of the men dragged him along by one arm, and he trailed submissively behind, grasping his precious instrument tightly.
Lady Avery led them outside to a large slab of granite residing in the gardens. She turned abruptly towards him and held out her hand, looking at him with malice in her ancient eyes.
“Give me your violin, boy.”
“No.” he shook his head, pressing his violin to him as if he wished to absorb it through his clothing and into his body.
“Take it from him.”
Jonathan struggled valiantly, but his fourteen year old strength could not stand for long against two full grown men. His violin was ripped from him, one of the strings snapping.
The servant handed it to Lady Avery.
“This is a beautiful instrument.” She looked it over, sliding her withered hands over its silky smooth surface. Jonathan felt sick, almost violated, watching every movement of the thin hands. “It's too bad that I am going to have to destroy it.”
“NO!” he shrieked, trying to get away. One of the other servants came and had to help restrain him. Samuel rested a hand on his shoulder, but he did not feel it.
“I have to destroy it along with that witch’s other things. And along with your things when you’re gone.”
“No!” the tears rolled down his already red face, the first he had ever cried in her presence. “Please no. I b-beg you, I’ll do anything you wish!”
She smiled at him, “I feel sorry for you boy, for it truly wasn’t your fault to begin with. But still, you have given me enough trouble to justify my smashing a thousand violins.”
“Please.” It was a whisper. “Please don’t do it.” Not to his violin, not to her last gift. Not to the medium through which he expressed his soul.
“Oh yes, it’s going to happen, boy.” She turned and handed the violin to the last available servant.
Samuel stepped forward, angrily.
“Grandmother, this is going way too far! Let him be, he’ll be gone in a few weeks anyway!”
She laughed; cruel daggers pierced Jonathan’s heart, leaving him weeping.
“You stay out of this Samuel Avery, or I’ll write to a certain Captain Gethers and cancel our arrangement.”
A battle of wills lasted for ten terrible seconds between them. A pained look crossed over Samuel’s face. His shoulders caved, and he nodded.
“I’m so sorry Jonathan.” He whispered.
“Smash it.” She commanded the servant, who turned to carry out her order, though his face betrayed that he did not want to.
At the last second, Samuel lunged for the violin, but to no avail. The sound of the shattering violin against the granite slab mingled with the piercing scream of a heart broken fourteen year old whose very soul seemed to be ripped from him. The servants could not hold him, and her plummeted forward, only to run into the arms of his brother, who held him tightly as they both sobbed, standing in the drenching rain.