"We will be waiting on shore for your decision tomorrow when you dock. It was nice meeting you guys."
The sentence is left hanging in the air as if it still echoes in the small room. The silence left behind in the wake of Mitch's brothers is nearly suffocating. I finally suck it up and say the words that need to be spoken.
"Mitch, you know you have to go back to Kongkea don't you? Saying no, Staying here, Those aren't really options you can choose."
Mitch grimaces at me "I know I need to go, but I don't want to go. I like it here. I like this life."
"Are you crazy?!" I squeak fighting to keep my voice down, "You are a freaking KING of a TROPICAL ISLAND. You have a family that just showed and wants you even if they're still angry, a whole nation full of people who need you, and on top of all that the girl you still love is on the other end of that balloon ride. You ran away because she said you were immature and believed you would never mature as long as you were there in that environment. Look at yourself now. You are mature and responsible. You are everything she ever could have wanted from you but for some reason you are struggling with this decision because you don't want to leave HERE?! YOU LIKE IT HERE?! Look around Mitch there is absolutely nothing here for you. You are working a literal dead-end job. You are broke, bullied, beaten, and disrespected. This is an easy decision. Go HOME. Live your life. You have a castle, wealth, family, and a nation that respects you. What do you mean you don't want to go?"
Mitch stares at me like I am missing something obvious and his voice trembles just a bit, "I don't want to go. I am scared. I have everything I need here, and I am afraid that if I go and fail, I will lose everything I have and gain nothing. Or what happens if we do succeed and Kongkea really only does need two kings? I will lose everything and gain nothing. What if they hate me for running away or hate who I am now? I can't go back and risk everything I have here for maybes, speculations, and uncertainties."
I stare at him. I feel like I entered the twilight zone without noticing because nothing here makes sense. I barely have my voice restrained to the necessary low volume as now I am becoming frustrated "What DO YOU HAVE HERE?!? Like I said you are broke. In Both the You have NO money way, and the you are Beaten regularly so your body is broken kinda way. You have no respect here. AND oh YEAH you are working for an employer who will eventually KILL YOU! Like for real we both know the only way you get out of this job other than a magical hot air balloon falling from the sky is DEATH. WHAT ABOUT ANY OF THAT IS EVERYTHING?" I ask him almost desperately because for once I am actually confused as to why this is such a hard decision for him.
"YOU. Duh. I have you my sister whom I love and who I thought loved me too. That love and bond has got me through a lot. How can I throw that away for maybe?" Mitch says it as if it is the most obvious answer in the world leaving me dumbfounded,
"Is, you saved my life and that tied us together. I love you as my sister and I REFUSE to leave you here alone. Especially knowing that if I leave you will die for it. You're right, the girl I love is back in Kongkea and part of my heart will always want her, but my sister who I cannot live without is right here sitting in front of me acting like a dummy. So, my choice isn't between this life and that. My choice is between killing you by leaving or potentially dooming a nation. Maybe she is evil and maybe it is the wrong choice but also maybe my brothers are dramatic, and it is just a change of power. One choice I know my life ends because you die, the other is a lot of speculation, and I can live with that. My decision is final. Either you come with me or we stay here. For me there are no other viable options. Your choice. Are we going to go save Kongkea or are we going to stay here. Either way I will be home, and I will be confident in my choice. I would not have survived this place without you, and I know I would not survive returning to Kongkea without you."
I can't speak for a moment. It feels like my throat is closing and I can't catch my breath. Mitch doesn't understand I can't go to Kongkea my fate is its destruction, but I can't tell him that. Just like I can't tell him I know who has risen to challenge the validity of a king who wears a king ring he didn't earn and that they are true evil. I have to try again use any logic that might convince him. I feel desperate.
"Mitch, I can't go to Kongkea. I don't belong there like you do. Me being there..." I trail off unable to utter the forbidden words so I try again with a different tact, "Mitch, be real I would only cause trouble for you and get in your way. You know that no one would believe that we are just very close friends. Rumors will circulate about our relationship and then you will lose your girl. Rumors about what we have been doing since you left will start to and your reign would be in trouble. You need to go with them. Go with your brothers and save your people. With them you will be a hero, popular, safe, and whole again. Those are things I can't give you. Once you are there you will no longer need me." I tell him accidentally letting my voice go soft, a tremor running through as my sadness leaks in against my will.
Mitch's voice by contrast is steady and even, "It does not matter whether or not I need you, and I don't care what anyone may or may not say or think. All I care about is my sister. I do truly want to go and help 'my people' as you called them, but I will not go, I cannot go, knowing that if I do, I might save others, but I will for sure lose you forever."
"But Mitch..." I try again my voice weak and half-hearted even before he interrupts me.
"No. No more 'buts' or arguments. My mind is made up. I am staying with you. Now it is your choice." Mitch's voice is decisive and strong yet still gentle.
"Okay," I know I cannot win this especially since it is an argument I don't think I want to win. I don't truly want him to leave me even though I know he must. "Let's get some sleep for now we can decide our fate in the morning."
"Okay, Good night, Is see you in the morning. Sleep well sis."
"Night Mitch sleep well. See ya in the morning."