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Elias Spector was surprised at hearing a knock on his door. Barely anybody knocked or came to see him these days. As soon as his wife had died, all their friends seemed to just leave. Leave like Marc did almost twenty years ago, Elias only seeing on the day of his mother’s funeral through a window.
He gently placed his cup of tea down and got out of his armchair. It wouldn’t do good to keep whoever was on the other side of his front door waiting for too long. He walked down the halls of his home that once was filled with laughter and joy, now haunted with silence and loneliness.
The man passed a family picture. The last one they had ever taken when Randall was still alive, Wendy didn’t have her drinking problem and Marc was still a happy kid. After his son’s funeral, they never got another photo taken.
Part of Elias wondered what Randall would have looked like now. He always looked more like his mother compared to Marc, who seemed to take after himself.
He could hear muffled talking coming from outside the door, a man’s and a woman’s voice. It almost seemed as if they might have been arguing. The woman clearly seemed to be trying to convince the man to do something.
Elias opened the door with a squeak and blinked. Nothing was said.
Before him stood his son who he hadn’t seen in years, practically looking like a younger version of himself with the curly hair and eyes. Next to him stood a woman, shorter than him, with a mess of curly hair and a stubborn expression on her face, she looked to be Egyptian.
“Marc?” Elias whispered out in wonder. He had always thought he would never see his son again while he was still alive. When Marc had left at 18, he had thought that was the end. No more family for him to cling onto now, just two people who had the same blood, but one would never acknowledge it.
Marc stiffened slightly before finally making eye contact with his father. “Hi dad,” He tried to smile but it only looked like a grimace.
Elias stood still for a moment, just staring at his son. “Oh, would you like to come in?” He made sure to smile at the woman standing next to his son. He had no idea who she was but if she had been the one to convince Marc to come here, she had his gratitude.
Marc looked as if he might decline but the shorter woman stepped in at that moment. “We would love to,” She smiled,” I’m Layla El-Faouley.”
“It’s lovely to meet you, Layla,” Elias replied with his one tiny smile,” Please do come in.”
He opened the door wider so that the two adults could get through. Elias didn’t say anything as he led them to the lounge, quietly watching his son and the woman he was with.
The two were holding each other’s hands firmly as they slowly stalked the corridor. Marc glanced towards the family picture, his eyes lingering on his brother with obvious pain. Layla gently tugged his hand to get his attention, sending him a reassuring look, before they both continued walking on.
The next few minutes were spent with Elias asking if they wanted anything to drink. Marc had grinned a little at that before requesting a tea. Layla had shot him a questioning look to which he only nodded back at her. The woman herself only asked for a water.
Elias hands shook after he secluded himself in the kitchen, having to lean against one of the counters to ensure he wouldn’t fall over. He let out the deep breath he had been holding in and got to work sorting out their drinks. Whatever his son had come here for, he would support him in any way. Whether that be one thing or another.
The old man carefully brought the drinks out, handing them to the two before sitting back down in his respective armchair.
“What had brought you here, Marc?” Elias asked quietly after a few moments. Marc hadn’t touched his drink yet.
The man looked helplessly at Layla who only nodded in support. Elias was glad he had found someone who would support him in whatever he was trying to do right now.
Marc breathed in and out slowly, clearly a breathing exercise he had done before. Elias despaired to think why he had to learn that, but his mind already knew the answer. Wendy, Marc’s mother, was the reason.
“Dad,” Marc started out and once again made eye contact with his father,” I would like for you to meet Layla, my wife.”
Elias didn’t say a thing. He looked over at Layla with a new look in his eyes.
He knew it was likely Marc had probably found someone but had never really thought on it. To him, he was still that 18-year-old boy who had left home at the earliest opportunity.
“I’m happy for you Marc,” Was all Elias could say,” Thank you for taking care of my son, Layla.”
The Egyptian woman flushed before snorting. “If only he would let me take care of him, Mr Spector,” She said with a quirk to her lips,” Marc prefers it to be the other way around.” This time his son was the one blushing.
A part of Elias was saddened that her never got to see his son marry. To be able to properly welcome Layla into the family. Randall would have probably loved Layla, he had idolized Marc after all.
“How long have you two been together?” Elias asked politely. This was most likely going to be the only time he would be able to find out anything about what his son was up to these days, and he desperately wanted to know everything. He was like a starving dog looking up at all the food he couldn’t reach.
Layla’s face turned sour but she still did smile. “Around ten years we’ve known each other for, married for four,” She responded as Marc reached his hand over to grab hers, their fingers intertwining with each other.
“That’s wonderful,” Elias took a sip out of his own drink that was rapidly turning cold,” I am happy you’ve been in each other’s lives for so long.”
This woman knew more about his own son than he did.
“We also came here to tell you something else,” Marc’s voice was gruff.
A part of Elias suspected they were going to have a child but it was quickly brushed away. Marc had long since said he never wanted children after Randall had died and his own mother turned on him. Marc had always said he was never going to be like his mother.
The married couple exchanged glances, Layla’s still remaining patient and understanding. Elias wished Marc had found this woman sooner.
“I have a disorder,” His son admitted,” I just wanted you to know because I felt you deserved to know.”
Elias definitely did not deserve to know. His boy was too good for this world.
A part of him refused to accept that his son had a disorder, but he had already promised he would accept wholeheartedly whatever Marc would tell him. The only reason he could see Marc coming here and telling him is that if it was a disorder he had gotten from when he lived under this roof. Elias could feel the dread building up inside of him.
“That’s alright. If there is any way I can help, I would be willing to do anything,” Elias first reassured his son who had barely gotten any love in this house for years,” Whatever it is, I will love you no matter what.”
Marc’s anxiety seemed to deflate at his last words, which just made Elias feel even worse. His son still searched for acceptance and parental love like he did all those many years ago after his brother’s death.
Layla squeezed his hand comfortingly. Clearly, she already knew what it was. It was good he had someone that would accept everything about him.
“It’s, uh, DID. Dissociative Identity Disorder,” Marc admitted as he stared at one of the walls where a mirror hung. Layla also smiled at the mirror.
All breath left Ellias at that. Anguish came crashing down as he heard those words. “That’s like multiple personalities?” He cautiously asked as he set down his cup of tea.
Marc winced slightly. “Yeah, but that’s an outdated term,” He said.
DID formed when someone was a child, Elias knew that, because of repeated trauma. The man wanted to be sick and felt like screaming. Wendy was the reason. His wife who had once loved this boy before him with all her heart.
That had all snapped after Randall had died. Wendy blamed their only living son for his death and while Elias had no idea what went on in Marc’s room when she would close the door, all he knew was that it couldn’t be good.
“When did you find out?’ Elias asked with sadness in his eyes.
“I was eighteen,” Marc replied,” Just before I left.”
Had there been times when Elias had spoken to someone who wasn’t Marc? He honestly couldn’t remember. Half of those days had been filled up with grief and trying to stop his wife from becoming an alcoholic to remember anything else in much detail.
“It’s just,” Marc seemed to struggle to find the right words,” One of them wanted to meet you and everything and Layla also said she wanted to meet you. And I kind of wanted to see you again.”
Elias nodded,” Have I ever spoken to this one before?”
“Yeah you have, actually. It’s when you thought I had turned British for like a few days.”
Elias did remember a time like that. Marc had claimed he had no idea what his father was going on about after it had happened and he had just pushed it to the side with a shrug.
“What’s their name?” Elias kept the conversation going. Layla shot him a thankful smile, seemingly happy that he was being so accepting. He wondered how long Layla had known about this.
Marc brightened up at that. “His name is Steven, Steven Grant,” He said proudly with a small smile of his own.
“Like that Tomb Buster you and Randall were obsessed with?” Elias asked with a raised eyebrow.
He half expected Marc to deflate, turn into himself, at the mention of his brother. All that happened was a pained expression before he continued speaking,” Yeah, just like that. The other alter is called Jake Lockley, he’s the one who kept getting into fights at school.”
Elias remembered those days clearly. Were his son had acted more ruthless than he normally would and lashed out at everyone and everything. He hadn’t seemed to like his father when he was like that, so that probably meant that Jake didn’t like him all too much.
Marc’s eyes seemed to glaze over. Layla leaned forward in concern. “Is Steven or Jake there, Marc?” She asked quietly. Elias felt himself stiffen.
“Yeah, Steven said he wants to front,” Marc murmured as he stared at the mirror.
“That’s all right, don’t worry Marc. Steven and I can handle this,” Layla reassured him.
Elias got a front seat viewing to what happened next. His son’s body froze up and Marc blinked rapidly before he slumped back down into his seat.
Marc looked around in confusion before locking eyes with his wife. “Oh, hey Layla,” Marc- no Steven said with a wide smile,” Marc just kind of evacuated and Jake was like no way and shoved me up front.”
The Egyptian woman just smiled and nodded. “That’s fine, remember when we all talked about going to visit your dad,” She reminded him,” Well we’re here now.”
Steven’s eyes widened before his spun around and locked eyes with his father. Elias offered him a small smile,” Hello Steven, it’s nice to meet you.”
The man was a lot more excitable than Marc was. “Hey dad,” His British accent was also extremely strong,” It’s nice to see you too.”
Elias spent who knows how long getting to know Steven. He was so different to Marc it was surreal. He even got excited once he saw the cup of tea in front of him, turning to Layla with wide eyes.
“Marc got me some tea?” He asked in bewilderment.
Layla laughed loudly at that, leaning forwards to peck him on the cheek. “Marc told me to tell you I got it for you,” She mock whispered.
Steven grumbled,” I knew he was a big softie.”
Elias smiled as he watched the two interact. “Marc’s always been like that,” He gave his own input.
Steven turned to face him with a grin. “Once he replaced my fish Gus after it had died cause he didn’t know how to look after it,” He told,” The only reason I knew was because my Gus had one fin and he got me one with two! I called him the one finned wonder.”
Elias remembered Randall’s drawings. He would always draw a fish with one fin because he didn’t know how to draw the other one. Marc would always laugh but Randall had insisted it was the ‘one finned wonder’.
Perhaps a part of Randall lived on in Steven.
The three of them all talked for hours. Steven recounted his life of working in a museum as a gift shop employee while Layla described how she had found out about Steven since apparently Marc hadn’t told her about his disorder before they had gotten married.
It didn’t feel like long, but before they all knew it the sun was setting. The drying light shone through the open windows and Layla frowned. “I’m so sorry but we have to get going soon,” She apologized with a smile.
Elias waved his hand,” It’s alright, you can all come back whenever you want to.”
“Thanks dad,” Steven grinned at him,” I’m sure Marc will want to see you again and Jake will eventually come round. I’m positive.”
The old man led them back towards the front door they had entered hours earlier through. Steven hesitated for a moment before enveloping him in a hug.
Elias could feel the man’s shoulders shaking and wrapped his own arms back around him. Today, it seemed he had gained two more sons. He might not have met Jake yet, but he knew for a fact he loved him. Just like he had loved Marc for years and now how he loved Steven in all the time he had known him.
Steven broke off the hug and stepped outside the house, taking Layla’s hand into his own. “Thank you for having us over,” Layla said.
They began walked away and Elias just watched with a smile. Steven turned back around and waved with his free hand. “Laters gators,” He called out with his own big smile.
Wendy had once said the final bit, but she was gone now. So, Elias would say it instead. “In a while crocodile,” He yelled back so they could hear him.
Steven’s face lit up before he turned back around, swinging his and Layla’s arms as they walked.
Elias watched sadly as they turned a corner and out of sight. “In a while crocodile,” He muttered.