Redemption Dawn

Throughout his childhood and early twenties, Kurt lived a privileged life. His parents raised him well, always teaching him to enjoy life. He lived a comfortable life, supported by his wealthy grandfather's oil business. Kurt's father worked for the business, and soon, he would as well. He excelled in college, propelled by his family's healthy financial situation and ambition to live up to their expectations. After graduating college, he smoothly transitioned into the oil business, excitedly working side by side with his grandfather and father. After 4 years in the business, Kurt thought that he couldn't be happier. He was now 26 and worth a million. He worked for his two biggest heroes, and life had been nothing but easy for him.

Tragically, Kurt's grandparent's and parent's plane disappeared over the Atlantic. After their disappearances, the family business turned out to be a little over 6 million in debt to the IRS, and on the verge of bankruptcy. To Kurt's surprise, he learned that his grandfather had been stealing from the company for years. Kurt was told by the company's accountant, that when his grandfather figured out that the company was going under, he took every crooked dollar he could get his hands on, hoping to jump ship with a little cash to go away on. Now finding himself as the sole owner of the family business, Kurt had to deal with all of his scheming grandfather's overwhelming debts. The only way to break even was to sell the business. So he did, and after funeral costs, and all debts included, Kurt found himself at dead zero.

Kurt was now on his way back from his parents and grandparents funerals. He was flying in coach, and felt incredibly uncomfortable sitting in-between a fighting married couple. He hated the essence of conflict. He lived his life avoiding fights, tension, and problems at all costs. The lifestyle he lived was privileged to say the least. He never worried about anything. His parents kept him in a bubble his entire life, shielding him from the inevitably terrible world he now recognized.

Looking out of the side of his eye at the husband of the couple, Kurt saw his oversized gut, greasy hair, and all the disgusting self confidence that fallowed. From the sound of the argument, it seemed as if the couple was living in the fifties. There was a clear undertone of presumed ownership seeping from the husband's throat. "A woman jailed to the point of madness", Kurt thought to himself. As Kurt's empathy for the woman set in, he heard the sound of the fasten seatbelts sign, and soon the captain came on to the intercom, announcing they would be landing momentarily.

`Upon arrival, Kurt quickly made his way to the nearest airport bar. Walking into the bar, he noticed a breath taking view. From the bar, Kurt could see an entire horizon filled with snowcapped mountains. It was five-thirty A.M., and the sky was beginning to fill with the first rays of daylight. Kurt sat down at a table, and looked around the bar. He noticed a few traveling businessmen having a conversation over the upcoming republican primary. He could hear their voices over everyone else's, not that they really had anything to say. Gazing over his left shoulder, Kurt saw an old man eating alone. He wondered why the man was alone. He questioned if the man had family, a wife, anybody? Then, dropping his head back into his glass, he sighed in disbelief.

Looking at the clock across the bar, Kurt noticed that thirty minutes had passed. He thought, "What difference does it make, time, just an illusion, nothing but pain". He felt like he was living in a disaster area, ravaged by a fierce tornado, and left with nothing but small pieces of a town to rebuild, utter and complete emptiness, with no one to turn to for comfort, and nothing to cheer him up.

Naked, lonely, and lost, Kurt sat there motionless, pondering the meaning of life, love, and happiness. He questioned whether the life of wealthy businessmen would be fulfilling. He felt ambivalent and unaware of his true identity. Things just were not making since to him anymore. His entire view of life crumbled apart after the death of his family. "Where do I go from here", Kurt whispered to himself.

"Anywhere" said a young woman entering the bar. Anthony looked up at her, confused, and said "excuse me"? "You can go anywhere", she said. Laughing, almost in shock, Kurt asked, "Would you like to sit down"? Then she replied, "Only if you'd like me too". Kurt thought to himself for a moment, then responded, "I'd love you too sit with me".

Kurt gazed at her, unsure whether to be excited, or down right mortified. She was everything he wasn't, independent, excited, and without a care in the world. "I'm Kaitlin", she said, then asked "What's your name?" He responded, "I'm Kurt, what brings you to Colorado"?" I'm here for my mother's funeral; she died three months back in a base jumping accident". "Base jumping accident?" Kurt asked shocked by her answer. Kaitlin looked at Kurt and laughed, then said, "Yea, she was a bit of a wild one". Confused by her answer, Kurt asked, "Aren't you sad? I'm sorry to be so forward, it just intrigues me that you could be so high in sprit after such a terrible event." She gave him a look of fury, and asserted, "I loved my mom just as much as you do, I just know that she lived her life to the fullest, and that it was her time to go. She wouldn't want me to be sad, and if she ever caught me feeling bad for myself, she would come back from the grave just to slap me and tell me to go have a good time." Kurt then turned his head toward the window, hoping the subject would pass, and new conversation would begin.

Looking out the window, Kurt noticed the sun rising, and the immensity of the view became visible; he could see nothing but mountains for miles. Jumping back into reality, Kurt turned and asked, "Would you like a cigarette?" Kaitlin glanced at him and smiled, then said yes, and silently gazed into his defeated eyes as he lit her cigarette.