The Courage to Grow - 2 - Making it clear A white Mercedes M-Class drove on a semi-busy highway towards the city of Oulu. Inside where the two protagonists, Blake and Erik Toivonen, on their way to their ex-wife/mother, Mila Ranta. Mila was not the ideal person to talk to, as she has her believes, even if some were prejudice. Blake was not in the mood to talk to her, as they haven't for a good few months, but it was necessary this time, because of Erik. Erik had not told his mother about moving to America, and that was a big problem for Blake. The drive was mostly silent with just the engine growling gently, along with the muffled sound of the radio playing songs of the 80's. The M-Class drove into the city with old and modern buildings passing by, and buses and fellow cars driving in the same path. Blake took a few turns before he arrived at the apartment complex his ex-wife lived in. After pulling into a visitor parking spot in the back, the two male reindeer climbed out of the car. Blake was wearing his casual checkered shirt and some jeans, while Erik sported the same pants, but wearing his long-sleeved Grrvana shirt. The two made their way to the door as Erik buzzed his mother's apartment number. Within seconds, they got a response. "(Who is it?)" A familiar female voice spoke. "(It's me, Erik. And dad's here too.)" Erik replied in a more monotone pitch. "(Did you forget your key and why is your father taking you home again?)" Mila said with a rather unimpressed tone of voice. "(Mom, just let us in. I gotta talk to you.)" Erik sighed, looking back at his father, who was getting annoyed. The buzzer sounded as Erik pushed the door and the two went inside. A few flight of stairs later, they got to the door, and went through as Mila opened it for them. Mila had her blouse and dark pants on, which seemed rather formal than casual wear, but that's how she rolled, along with her blonde, shoulder-length curly hair. With a brief greeting, all three made their way to the living room, where there was a simple leather couch, along with family photos and art hanging all around it. It was a sleek, yet classic set-up for an apartment. "(So why are you here?)" Mila asked as the two turned to face their nemesis. "(Well, me and Erik had a long talk last night and...)" Blake began to speak before Mila, like old times, stopped him in the middle of his sentence. "(I wasn't really talking to you, but ok.)" she snarked back. Erik rolled his eyes before he spoke. "(Anyway, mom, me and dad were talking about it, and I need to clear something up with you.)" he said as he gathered his words. "(What is it?)" Mila asked. "(Well, remember when dad told you about moving to the USA?)" "(I can't remember, I think he did.)" At that moment, Blake wanted to interfere to remind his ex-wife they indeed talked about his move to America, but right now, Erik was talking, and he wasn't going to interfere. "(Well...)" Erik took a deep breath, closing his eyes before he spoke those needed words. "(... I'm going with him.)" Mila's expression changed from disapproval to utter shock. Her mind didn't want to process what her son just said to her. "(What?)" Erik swallowed before continuing. "(I'm going to America with dad. I applied at a few universities in America, so I can study and play basketball.)" it was getting harder for Erik to talk to her, as she began to raise her arms in disbelief. "(Erik! You cannot do that! I'm not letting you go over there?!)" Mila began to raise her voice, which made Blake step in to defend his son. "(Mila, he's a grown man and can make some decisions on his own!)" "(You do not tell my son what he has to do with his life, Blake!)" Mila spat back at her ex-husband. "(I did not make him decide to come with me. What is wrong with you, Mila!)" The two parents spat and yelled at each other, giving Erik terrible memories of his past, as he stood aside and turned around to face a different direction. He wanted none of it. When he was younger, his parents were fighting almost constantly, with Blake going through the door every so often. Blake couldn't stand fighting with Mila. It was as if their love evaporated into thin air, and all the relationship consisted of was shouting and arguing. That's all there was until the two separated, and Erik stayed at his mother's, for the sake of his father, who was travelling a lot on business. But even after Blake left the house and Mila got her maiden name back, Erik really wasn't having a better time around his mother. When Mila had her friends over, she'd talk about her ex-husband like he was the worst, and Erik could hear it from his room as he was doing homework. He nearly believed what his mother said about his father, but all the visits to dad's made him see just how wrong she was about him. Blake was a humble man, and knows things could have gone better for their family, but he wasn't letting the nasty divorce get him down, and he just focused on giving his son a sweet escape and helping them bond together more as father and son. That's all Erik could've ever asked for, and that's why Erik wanted to join his dad on his quest to America. He wanted to get away from his mother and make his own decisions, whether they were influenced by his father or not. Erik gathered all the energy he could as the yelling between Blake and Mila wasn't stopping and their son suddenly stepped in with clenching fists and a mad expression on his face. "Riittää jo!!!" Erik screamed as hard as he could. Blake and Mila stepped aside, in shock from what they've seen. Their son was always on the outside of their fights and for the first time, he was making it his business. "(Stop it! Just stop! Enough! For God's sake, you guys are killing me!)" Erik went on. "(It was MY decision to go to America with dad and it was MY decision alone! I want this! Me! Not you!)" Erik grunted with great anger. Blake didn't say anything, but Mila urged to do the opposite. "(So your father...)" "(No, Mom, and he never did!)" Erik turned to face his mother, the anger intensifying in his expression. "(You always assume it was dad who influences me to make decisions! He does not! He knows I'm mature enough to make my own decisions! Unlike you!)" Mila took a step back and Blake put his hand on Erik's shoulder to hold him back, but Erik wasn't done. "(You always treat me like a child, Mom! I've had enough of it! I'm 18 years old! I want to start my future, and I'm not letting you interfere me with what I want to do for myself!)" Mila opened her mouth, but the only thing that came out was "...Erik..." "(No! I do the talking now! I can't stand you talking about dad like he's the biggest threat to you! He's nothing like you say he is! He's my father, and a damn good one at that! I've had enough of your lies and misjudgement! You are wrong! So god damn wrong!)" "(Get out of my life!)" he shouted and stood there for a minute, seeing his mother's eyes water up like he's never seen before. Dazed and confused, Erik ran to the hallway, ran through the door and slammed it shut. He sprinted down the stairs and out of the building, turning the corner to run to the back of the apartments, and sitting down against the right front wheel of his dad's Mercedes. He held his head in his hands, leaning forward on his knees. He couldn't believe he just did that. He just stood up to his own mother, and made her pay for the many times she wasn't a proper mother to him. But he still loved her. He felt a wave of regret washing into his mind. He just wanted to be alone right now. --- Back in the apartment, Mila and Blake were sitting on opposite ends of the couch. The mother was having the worst night of her life, as her son unveiled his true feelings. Blake felt awkward and out of place, unable to say anything after Erik stormed out of the apartment. This has clearly been an ice breaker for Erik, but it left his father in an awkward position. He didn't leave. Something in his mind told him to stay with his ex-wife. She needed some support, and Blake began to realize that. Mila was shaken and in tears. This is the first time Erik had blown up at her. It was out of the blue and unexpected, for all parties. But she began to realize just how much Erik has grown up. He wasn't a child anymore. He wanted to move to America, and make a name of himself. She needed to let him go, but all this time, she was unable to with her kind of attitude. And tonight seemed to change that. Blake looked towards Mila, as she raised her head, looking at Blake briefly before turning her head once more. "(I'm... sorry.)" Blake muttered, thinking he had done something wrong, like the many times before. Mila shook her head in response. Blake began to experience some deja-vu, but was snapped out of it as she worded her reply. "(No... I'm sorry.)" Blake perked his reindeer ears as this was the first time in many years he has heard those words. It was as if Mila finally cracked her shell open. "(I've been so mean to you, and had all these assumptions about you. What is wrong with me?)" Mila went on for a little bit. Blake waited for the opportunity to speak, as Mila paused and Blake was able to come forth. "(Look, Mila, I know you've had your good intentions when we were together, but you were looking over my shoulder so much, it was irritating me. I told you time and time again that I was not going to risk tearing our family apart, and reminded you how much I loved you, but it became so much of a struggle for me to cope with you and your obsessive nature, that I couldn't take it anymore, and you know what happened in the court room.)" Blake took a deep breath as Mila didn't say anything. Blake sat up and walked to his ex-wife, who was hunched over on the couch. He sat down beside her and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. There was no more spark between them, but their feud needed to be laid to rest for good. "(Mila, one thing is clear. Nothing is the same anymore. Erik has grown up, and we're not in love anymore. Me and Erik are going into a new chapter in life but it has nothing to do with you. It's about us. Erik wants to go to America to study and I have found clients to work with there. We're going there for us.)" Blake rubbed Mila's shoulder more, as she let him. She nodded and leaned up, and Blake removed his arm. She looked at him, a few tears still running. "(Just promise me one thing, Blake.)" Mila said, as Blake looked at her to listen carefully. "(Yes?)" "(Please take good care of him, and please tell him to call me once in a while.)" Mila sighed, running her hand through her curly hair as she sniffled. "(I'll promise to make that happen.)" Blake replied honestly. A few moments passed, then Mila leaned her head on Blake's shoulder. The male reindeer looked over to the female he used to love. It seemed odd to comfort her now, but something told him he had to. With some hesitation, Blake wrapped his arms around Mila, hugging her, rubbing her shoulder gently. No words were needed. The physical contact was enough to let them know everything will be ok. Blake hugged Mila for a while, then Mila let Blake go. "(I need to talk to Erik.)" "(Let me call him up.)" Blake said as he reached for his smart phone in his pocket and dialed Erik's number, then lifted the phone to his head. --- Erik sighed deeply as he looked up, laying on the cold concrete of the parking lot beside the Mercedes. He has calmed down. A lot of the boulders were off his shoulder, but he wasn't quite satisfied yet. He began to feel a vibration in his pant pocket and jumped up, grabbing his buzzing phone and looking at the screen. It was his dad. With a quick button press, he accepted the call. "(Yes, dad?.... yeah, I'm better now... ok, yeah, I'm coming up... Bye.)" The young reindeer got onto his feet and walked back to the front door. It was time to apologize for the outburst, but at least he felt more at ease.