Reading Between the Lines

by Dreamality

Disclaimer: Lost and all related characters, settings, plots, etc. belong to J.J. Abrams and ABC. I claim no ownership and make no money from this venture.
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Irreparably Broken (Sayid POV)

"You see? Some things can be fixed."

Some things, yes, like this simple music box. Other things are not so easy. It's ironic, really. The things that matter most are usually the least reparable, while trivial matters like this music box only require a small amount of work.

I wish I could fix my past. I wish I could repair the damage my reckless decisions made. I wish it could be done with only a few minutes of work, like this music box.

Nadia. She was innocent, untainted despite the horrors she had seen. When I was given the order to execute her I was gripped by fear, something a member of the Republican Guard was never supposed to feel. When I threw the mask at Nadia and she realized what was about to happen, there had been no fear. Only disappointment. I envied her courage.

Now she is gone. No matter how hard I wish it were not true, my heart tells me that she is not in this world anymore. No amount of time or effort will ever change that, and my past remains forever broken and reduced to ruin. Without Nadia it seems that my future is destined to be the same; irreparably broken.

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Fathering (Walt POV)

"So we'll play later, all right? Cool."

Walt watches Michael walk away with disbelief etched on his young features. His father, who is supposed to be caring for him in lieu of his mother, cares more about this stupid game than about Walt, his only child.

This man does not know how to be a father. That much is obvious to Walt. He can pretend all he wants to be a kind, loving man, but he is no father. Walt doesn't even like being around him because it reminds him painfully of his mother's kindness, which he will never feel again.

She had been great. She had been the World's Best Mom, as far as Walt was concerned. Despite the lack of support from Michael, she raised Walt to be polite, respectful, and nice. When he was sick she cured his ailment. When he was hurt she kissed away the pain. When he was bored she invented a new game to keep him occupied.

Then she died. Michael came to take Walt to America. He didn't know how to fix the aching, deep, endless hurt within Walt. As hard as he tried –which, to Walt, didn't seem hard at all– he never came even close to being like Walt's mother. He didn't know how to give proper hugs or how to talk to him or how to discipline him or how to raise him.

He didn't even know how to be a father.

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The End.