Cassius lightly tapped the record button on the camera, and stepped back. The tanned man looked a bit weary as he sat at the foot of his bed, a child in his arm. A digital clock in the background read that it was nine twenty-three in the morning.
He was rocking the infant gently back and forth; the child was a young girl, no older than a year old. Her eyes were closed as she rested against the tanned man.
Cassius then looked up to the camera, his hazel eyes glimmering with dull jade flecks. There were dark bags under his eyes, and he cracked his neck slightly before speaking.
“Hello, my name is Casimiro Fausto Gallegos, though I go by Cassius and nothing else. I’m here to audition for Total Drama Video Game.” he said, his voice commanded yet soft. He glanced down at the infant, relieved to see that she was not stirring.
“This isn’t the best time to be doing an audition, but today is the deadline and I only just found out about this opportunity last night.” he admitted, yawning slightly. “So forgive me for not being in the best condition at the moment. I was up until four filling out the paperwork. That alone should tell you that I need to be on the show.”
“This beautiful girl right here, the one I’m holding… this is my daughter, Esperanza. I’m raising her on my own right now, but I’m afraid I’m in a tight spot. I can’t find a job. I’m running out of money. I need to be able to provide for mija, but I don’t know what else to do. I don’t have any other option.” he said, looking crestfallen.
“In addition… well, I was recently diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica. It can be left untreated, but I’m still waiting to find out if I have temporal arteritis as well, a common side effect of PMR. If that’s the case… well, that needs to be treated.” he said solemnly.
“I asked that you’ll have mercy on me; this is beyond a desire for fame and glory. Such things do not interest me. This is to give mija the life she so desperately needs and deserves… and to avoid the possibility of her only parents going blind.” his voice grew quiet, barely more than a whisper.
“I don’t know what exactly you’re looking for, but I’ll be it. Just let me compete and compete with honor, and I’ll provide whatever role is necessary.” he said, and looked down at his sleeping daughter. He bit his lip, fighting back tears.
“Aye, Dios…. yo lo necesito…”