I write this story, I have accumulated various photos of young boys that match Nicholas's physical description; black, tousled hair, olive skin and green eyes. Striking to be sure, yet he endures abuse at home because he is "the bastard child" of the family.
You may find it strange that I rely on these photos to write his journey. But, I feel that I am constructing his identity when I do this. What music would he like? what does he think about? and so on. Various writers have differnt methods in creating characters. I find myself loving this character of Nicholas.
Why is Nicholas Special?
Since I am creating his character I can tell you:
- He is wise beyond his years
- He knows his fears and reacts to them as most boys are concerned about their machoism.
- His most powerful feature is that he would rather escape his circumstance than just exist.
- His love for his oldest brother is profound and geniune. He feels that Josh is the only one in his family that truly ever loved him.
- He meets various people along his journey and looks past the surface in search of a little kindness from others.
Nicholas is a character that is strong enough to recognize his weaknesses, strong enough to leave his situation and strong enough to eventually return.
I think it's a journey you won't soon forget. This story is based on a true story.
