Free Trouble by Taylor Jamie Beckett Page A

smiled.
    That’s
awesome.”
    “ Can’t you two get along?”
    “ He doesn’t like me.”
    “ What makes you say that?” Natalie sounded surprised. “He
thinks highly of you and even defended you.”
    Matt was
taken aback.
    “ After we came back from the Station, he said he wished he had
a brother like you. Someone to love and argue with; the sibling
rivalry kind of thing.”
    “ I guess we went too far today. I hit him.”
    “ He provoked you but I really don’t think he intended to hit
you,” She paused. “I think it’s healthy to talk things over and get
things off your chest. I don’t think he hates you.”
    Matt
looked away feeling embarrassed that he had been off handed in his
responses and that he had treated Byron shabbily.
    “ I guess in his own fumbling way he wanted to make sure that
his trust was not misplaced.”
    Gradually
Byron calmed down and breathed normally. He smiled at them as he
got up slowly.
    “ Nat can you give me a minute with Matt?”
    Natalie
dived into the pool.
    “ I misjudged you. I loved her so much I couldn’t let go. She
chose you over me. I’m okay with that now,” He reached over and
wiped the small trickle of blood on Matt’s lips. “Did I do that? I
don’t know what came over me.” He smiled.”I’m letting go
now.”
    Matt was
visibly shaken, “You’re letting go?”
    “ Yes, I’ve been kind of selfish. I’m now happy for her. I
always loved her even when she was Russ’s girl and I always wished
every day that they’d break up so I’d come into the picture. But
when she chose you, I couldn’t let go. I couldn’t accept that she
saw me as a brother. I’m okay now.”
    Matt was
speechless. He thought of his selfish dad and was touched by
Byron’s gesture.
    “ And Matt,” Byron hesitated. “I’m so terribly sorry back there.
I can’t believe I was going to shoot you. I lost
control.”
    “ Relax. I antagonized you. Sorry for pushing you down like
that,” he paused. “I knew you were not going to shoot. You’d never
shoot a brother,” he smiled.
    “ Let’s shake to it,” Byron said.
    The dark
shadows had gone as suddenly as it had descended.
    Byron
went into the mansion to get a drink and to cool off in the
shower.
    +++++
    Matt swam
under water and then it hit him. He suddenly had the revelation
that forgiveness meant letting go of all the dark shadows of hate
and bitterness lurking in his mind. He thought of his grandparents
who were always there for him. His grand dad said that he had a
father in heaven who always cared for him, loved him and would
never leave him. He suddenly realized the secret of forgiveness.
One had to fill one’s body and soul with love. This love replaced
the hate, bitterness and anger. One had to process this decision
and then put it into action. He was doing that now. He felt a great
weight coming out of his body and soul. He felt calm, relaxed and
at peace with himself.
    In his
own affirming way Byron had shown Matt the meaning of true love by
letting go of the girl he loved so dearly in the world above
anything else. That took real courage to do without feeling bitter
and angry. He had replaced his wounded feelings with real
love.
    Suddenly
he was free. He was overwhelmed by this wonderful feeling of
love.
    Natalie
swam over looking quite alarmed because his eyes were red and tears
glistened.
    “ I’ve done it! I’ve done it!” Matt said excitedly. It was as if
he was speaking to himself. “Oh my God, I’ve done it.” His eyes
sparkled as if he had just found something of great
beauty.
    She
looked quizzically at him. She was perceptive enough not to say
anything but allowed him to process his issues.
    “ My dad. He said he hated me. That I was an accident, that I’d
amount to nothing.” He spoke with a new revelation. “I’ve forgiven
him.” He looked up into the sky and shouted, “I’m free!”
    She
hugged him and felt happy that he had found his freedom in her
presence.
    “ I understand how you