Aaron West

The Story of Aaron West

This is a timeline outlining the story of Aaron West. Some dates specific, many are approximate, all are deliberately selected.

Leaving Upstate. Aaron's father moves from upstate New York to downstate New York.

Bills Fans Aaron and his father watch Jim Kelly lead the Buffalo Bills to four consecutive Super Bowl appearances.

The Bills Hat Aaron receives his father’s Bills hat.

Aaron, meet Diane. Diane, Aaron. Diane and Aaron meet in college. Initially they are absolutely perfect together. At one point they attend a party in New Jersey where they have a great time together and Diane is truly happy. Over time though, Aaron grows up and becomes dull and starts drinking a lot while Diane is still vibrant and blames herself for Aaron's excessive drinking. Eventually Diane and Aaron wed, move into an apartment in Brooklyn, and Diane gets a job and office in Manhattan.

I love you Dad. Aaron’s father passes away.

Where do we go from here? Aaron struggles to cope with the loss of his father and starts to shut Diane out. Diane suggests starting a family. She becomes pregnant.

We don’t have each other. Diane and Aaron find out they’re having a girl, but eventually lose the baby. Aaron shuts out Diane again and isn’t there for her despite her loss too. Their relationship falls into turmoil.

It's over. Aaron has lunch with Diane's sister and finds out Diane is leaving him. Initially he’s in denial, but realizes it’s true and starts drinking. Later in the week he goes to his mother’s house. She gives him his father’s car and tells him to run. Aaron heads south.

Where am I? Where are you? Aaron runs south toward Georgia while sleeping in his father’s car at night. At some point he tries calling Diane’s new phone number from a phone booth in the south. She doesn’t answer. Eventually Aaron gets a room at the Thunderbird Inn to stay in.

A different town's drunk. Aaron's been staying at The Thunderbird Inn in South Carolina for awhile. After Christmas Aaron finds himself again being unable to pay the owner of the Thunderbird for his stay because he keeps drinking his money away. He sneaks out of The Thunderbird and goes on the run again.

A storm is coming. Tropical Storm Sandy begins to form eventually making landfall in Jamaica and becoming Hurricane Sandy. Hurricane Sandy heads towards the East Coast.

Find shelter. Hurricane Sandy hits the East Coast.

Running. Part 2. Aaron runs again, but stays in the Carolinas. He continues to stay in his Dad’s car and eventually ends up at the coast. He resolves to go back home.

You can have the couch. I hate it. A college student named Jesse begins subletting 403.

Help me Mom and Dad. Aaron calls his mother from the phone booth and asks for money. She loans it to him. He buys a cellphone and takes an ad out in the paper to try and sell his father's car. Robert calls, but can't afford it. Aaron knows that Robert will take care of the car, so takes enough money to buy a bus ticket home and to pay both his mother and The Thunderbird Inn back.

Who the hell are you? Aaron hops on a bus in North Carolina and heads home. He gets off the bus in Brooklyn and he back to the apartment at 403. He finds that Diane is gone and a college student named Jesse is subletting the apartment. All that's left is Aaron's old coat at the bottom of the closet and the couch that Diane hated and left behind.

Home again. Aaron stays with his mother when he returns home.

You'll always be with us. Aaron and his mother spend a day together driving to Orchard Park to scatter Aaron's father’s ashes in the creek behind the east wall of Orchard Park. Aaron thinks about how he has his father's singing ability.

Let's get this over with. Diane and Aaron finally meet with all of the attorneys and finalize the divorce.

Trying to get on my own feet. Aaron finds and begins subletting an apartment in Asbury Park. He gets a job painting houses there and begins to start feeling happiness again. Aaron frequents a dive bar with an open mic and plays the songs he's written. Aaron starts smoking again, despite having quit smoking for Diane, because he enjoys it and realizes he needs to do things for himself and his own joy.

I see that I've worn out my welcome. Aaron's relationship with his mother becomes strained and she kicks him out of the house.

This still isn't working. Aaron's relationship with his mother remains strained. He gets in a fight in Asbury Park sticking up for a guy he paints houses with. Aaron ends up in jail, but gets out after the bartender at the bar stuck up for Aaron. After realizing he doesn't really have anybody, he decides to leave for Los Angeles. Catherine, her husband, and her son Colin are living in Boston.

Running. Part 3. Aaron hops on a train and starts navigating his way across the country towards California.

Spray painted 20. Aaron spray paints a 20 on the side of a building.

Spray painted 20. Aaron spray paints a 20 on the side of a Union Pacific rail car.

California. Aaron is in California driving by the Bunny’s Showgirls sign.

Still in California. Aaron drives by the California Welcome Center sign.

Spray painted 20. Aaron spray paints a 20 on the side of a yellow building.

Off to The Coliseum. Sammy Watkins is traded to the Los Angeles Rams by the Buffalo Bills.

I'm gonna make you proud of me. Aaron spray paints a 20 up on the an overpass.

Driving by Gator’s Bar & Grill. Aaron is in Apple Valley, California and driving by Gator’s Bar & Grill.

Three years with Kansas. Sammy Watkins is trades to the Kansas City Chiefs by the Los Angeles Rams.