Chapter 10 - The View from the Top
Eight years later.
The lights of Las Vegas flickered below the casino rooftop like a scattered carpet of stars. The wind blew cold across the concrete ledge, exactly as it had years ago.
A sixteen-year-old young man stood at the railing, wearing a sharp tailored navy blazer. His shoulders were broad, his posture straight, and his eyes held the quiet confidence of someone who knew exactly who he was.
Behind him, footsteps echoed on the gravel.
Cassius walked out onto the rooftop, now sixty years old, his silver hair fully white, but his presence as imposing as ever. He stood beside Eli, looking out over the glowing city.
"You have your final interview for Harvard Law tomorrow morning," Cassius said, leaning his arms against the railing. "What time do you need to leave?"
"Seven o'clock, Dad," Eli replied, a warm smile touching his lips. "But you don't have to drive me. I can take the car."
Cassius reached into his coat pocket, pulled out a cigarette, and lit it. The tiny flame illuminated his sharp, weathered features for a brief second before disappearing into the dark.
"I didn't ask if you can take the car," Cassius said, puffing smoke into the night air. "I asked what time."
Eli chuckled, pulling a small folded piece of paper from his wallet. It was yellowed and worn around the edges—the drawing from third grade, showing a man and a boy standing side by side.
"Do you remember what I asked you up here eight years ago?" Eli asked quietly.
"I remember," Cassius said, turning to look at his son. "You asked how to stand alone without being afraid."
Eli placed a hand on Cassius's shoulder, looking back at the man who had pulled him out of the shadows and given him a future.
"I finally figured out the answer," Eli said.
"Oh yeah?" Cassius raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"
"You don't have to stand alone," Eli smiled, looking out at the endless carpet of stars. "You just have to find the people worth standing with."
May you like
Cassius looked at the boy for a long moment, then slowly dropped his cigarette and crushed it under his shoe. A rare, genuine smile broke across his face.
"Seven o'clock," Cassius said, turning toward the stairwell. "Don't be late."
