Sanders was slowly but surely hammering his way through an essay final for one of his other classes. He had headphones on and had fairly effectively shut out the rest of the world, so it was no surprise that he didn't hear the knock at the door. The knock came again, louder this time and he pulled his headphones off his head just in time to hear the third knock. He scrambled to his feet and opened the door to reveal his father, Sanders was nearly a carbon copy of his father, except that William was three decades older. Sanders moved out of the way, still in shock. "Dad! What are you doing here?" He asked.
William moved into the dorm room. "I came to see you, obviously. The last time we talked it sounded like you could use some parental guidance." He explained.
Sanders shook his head. "We haven't talked in almost two months Dad" he replied.
William sighed heavily and sat in one of the empty chairs. "Rodger Bannister called me." He admitted.
Sanders looked a little disappointed. "Professor Bannister called you?" He asked.
William nodded. "He was worried about you. Apparently you are having more trouble with the divorce than you admitted to your mother and I." William explained.
Sanders threw his hands up. "Of course I am Dad!" He snapped. "What were you expecting? Did you really think you could just let me know a relationship older than me was just 'over', I'd nod, smile, go 'ho-hum' and be on about my day?" He almost shouted.
William looked concerned. "Not at all. We told you so you could ask us any questions you had or say anything you felt like you needed to say. Apparently we needed to give you more time to process and that's our fault." He admitted.
Sanders shook his head. "No it's really not. Regardless of me being your kid, your relationship status is between the two of you. I'm grown and out of the house, I appreciate the courtesy and I'm sorry I acted like a child." Sanders apologized.
William shook his head. "No one is ever ready for something like their parents splitting up. It doesn't matter how old you are." He said.
Sanders nodded. "So there's no chance the two of you are going to get back together?" He asked.
William shook his head. "There are a number of reasons that won't be happening, the least of which is that your mother's boyfriend would be very disappointed." William said with a smile.
Sanders was stunned. "Mom's dating someone already?" He asked in shock.
William nodded. "Oh yes, she met him st work and they seem to have hit it off quite nicely. We've had dinner a few times, I think you'll like him." He explained.
Sanders shook his head. "I think it will take me a while to get used to the idea of mom having a boyfriend." He started. "While we're on the subject though, what about you and professor Bannister?" He asked.
William smiled sadly. "Both of us are far too old to go digging up feelings that have been buried for so long." He said.
Sanders rolled his eyes. "Well that's bullshit." He spat.
William looked shocked. "Language son." He chided.
Sanders shook his head. "I'm an adult now, get used to it." He decreed.
William nodded. "All right then why is it 'bullshit?" He asked.
Sanders smiled. "Loving someone liberates the lover as well as the beloved. And that kind of love comes with age." He quipped.
William smiled. "Excuse me?" He asked again.
Sanders shook his head. "You freed yourself, and in a roundabout weird way, freed the love of your life. We are so rarely free to be who we are, don't turn your back on that freedom over something stupid like the fact that you were young and attractive a really long time ago."
"Hey!" William snapped. "It wasn't that long ago." He protested.
Sanders smiled. "That's the idea." He said.
