Array
(
[text] =>
Another day at the same damn job. I have been with this company for over ten years and not one promotion. My boss hates me, my co-workers are weird, and I live in a rundown apartment home that is infested with cockroaches.
For the last ten years, my life has been an endless road of hell. A “Highway to Hell,” if you would. No boyfriend, nor girlfriend, no children. All of my family died. Well, except my brother. He’s dead to me though. He’s in prison.
He murdered our little sister. He got pissed off at her one day because she was playing with his drum set, so, he took a drumstick and stabbed it through her eye. After that, he bashed her head in with one of the drums.
My mom hung herself and my father died soon after from a heart attack. I suppose you can say that my life is in shambles. Not to mention that I have to wear long sleeves all the time. If I don’t then I will get fired. But that’s a story for another time.
Days go by slowly and painfully and I count the minutes until I get to go back home where I will be engulfed by thoughts that no man should ever have. No person or anything for that matter. I am going to do it. I am tired of being alive. I am going to go home today and hang myself just as my mother once did. It’s official.
The clock struck 7 o’clock which signaled for me to leave. I got up and grabbed my coat before I heard a faint knocking on the wall of my cubicle.
“Sorry, it’s closing time.” I waved them off.
“It’ll just take a second. Please?” The person begged shyly. I sighed and looked up to be met with a shy looking boy who seemed just a few years younger than me. He looked beaten up and covered in dirt.
“Uh, what can I do for you?” I asked.
“I just, I need somewhere to stay. And I know that I shouldn’t be asking a stranger but you just looked really nice and I just don’t know what to do. Please, help me.” He begged. I gave him a look of sympathy.
“I suppose you can come with me and clean up or something.” I agreed. My plan will just have to wait. Tomorrow night then. He walked over to me and embraced me into a tight hug.
“Thank you.” He whispered.
—–
“So, the shower is through that door and you can sleep in my bed.” I explained briefly. “Where are you clothes?” I asked. Well, more like demanded.
“This is it.” He looked down at himself. I shook my head.
“You can wear something of mine. I’ll be right back.” The poor guy looked so lost. His eyes seemed to only hold sadness. Sadness draped with agony and pain.
“Thank you.” He said as I handed him clothes and a towel. I just gave him a small smile and nodded.
I walked into the kitchen as he went into the bathroom. I heard the shower turn on then I sat down. I placed my head into my hands and let out a deep sigh. I’m so stupid. How can I be so naïve? Victor Fuentes, you will make the light return to this boys eyes if it’s the last thing you do. He seems so innocent, just lost. I can help him. It’s not like I have anything to lose.
With that, I got up and started making something for him to eat. I don’t have much in my fridge, so something simple will have to suffice. Eggs and sausage. That’ll have to do.
“You hungry?” I asked him as he came out of the bathroom. I looked up at him. His hair was still wet and my clothes were baggy on him.
“A-a little.” I smiled at his stutter.
“Good, ’cause I made food. I hope you like breakfast meat and eggs.” I said mock cheerily. He just gave me a weak smile. I sat at the table and he sat across from me.
“So, what’s your name?” I asked while shoving a fork-full of eggs into my mouth.
“Kellin.” He stated simply.
“That’s a cute name. Well, nice to meet you Kellin. I’m Victor, but you can call me Vic.” Kellin stayed silent. “So, uh, what’s your deal?” I said, trying to break the silence. That, and I am genuinely curious.
“I, I uh- I just…” I could tell it was a touchy subject for him so I didn’t push it… for now.
“So, what’s wrong with you? Why are you so sad?” He asked me. His question caught me off guard.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I am perfectly fine.” I dismissed it.
“Don’t lie. I can see right through that fake smile of yours. Your eyes give it away. You’re, miserable. Probably contemplating death, and your worth. You feel this emptiness and it consumes you more and more each day until you finally reach your breaking point.” He explained a little too detailed.
“You sound like you speak from experience.” He shrugged. “Alright, how about this, I will open up to you, if you open up to me.”
“Deal. You first.”
“Well, your description was pretty much spot-on. I have no family, I have a shitty job and an even shittier home, and to top it off, I have nothing to live for. I’m just a lost boy, searching desperately for his lost soul. For his undiscovered meaning.” I explained, letting a single tear escape from my eye.
“I-I’m sorry.” Kellin sympathized.
“Uh, it’s your turn.” I changed the subject.
“Well, you were right when you said I spoke from experience. There’s this dark cloud over me at all times and whispers horrible things to me. My parents finally had enough of me. They started beating me in front of my little sister, then they would leave like nothing happened. The scared look on her face was too much and she is what made me want to fight back. But I was too scared myself. Then I finally did it. I stood up to them but then they beat me nearly to death. They threw me in the streets and left me to die. But someone found me, dropped me off at a hospital, then the doctors realized I had no way to pay, so they kicked me out. And here I am; contemplating whether or not life still has a meaning.” I was speechless and couldn’t get my mouth to say anything.
I decided it was best to just get off of the topic.
“So, you haven’t touched your food at all. Why aren’t you eating?”
“Oh, I, sorry. I guess I’m just not hungry.” He explained.
“Bull.Tell me the truth.” I demanded.
“I’m vegan.” He hesitantly stated.
“Oh. How about we just go out to eat then?” I offered.
“No, no. That won’t be necessary. You don’t have to do that.”
“Come on. I insist. You’re probably starving. Then he smiled. A genuine smile. That warmed my heart.
—–
“A hamster. His name was Snookims.” Kellin replied to my question. I snickered.
“Snookims. Who came up with that one?”
“My sister and I did it together.” He said, his smile fading away. I instantly felt bad.
“I’m sorry.” I apologized.
“Me too.” He shook his head.
We were walking along the beach. Each with a vegan burger in our hands. Kellin really was hungry. He ate his, and whatever I didn’t eat. Which, by the way, was a lot because I actually like meat. Not the point. I was actually having fun with this stranger. It seemed like I have known him forever and a day. For the first time in a long time, I felt happiness.
“Look!” Kellin exclaimed and ran to an object in the distance that he pointed to.
“Kellin, wait!” I ran after him.
“Wha-what is it?” I asked.
“Isn’t it beautiful? It’s an ancient skipping stone that is believed to have powers to grant whatever wish your heart most desires.” He explained. “Here,” he said, handing me the stone, “make a wish and throw it into the water. The more it skips, the better.”
“I can’t take that. You found it. It’s yours.” I tried handing it back.
“Please. You need it more than I do. I know it.”
“How about this?” I broke the stone in half and handed him a piece. He smiled warmly at me.
“But it only works on one wish.”
“I guess we’ll find out.” I assured him.
“Together?” He asked.
“Together.”
We each threw our half of the stone and they just so happened to both skip seven times and sunk to the bottom together. I guess the stone is just connected to its other half. The moon shone and glistened in Kellin’s hair. He looked mesmerized by the full moon and starry sky on the horizon of the water that stretched beyond eyes reach. Then, I saw a star sparkle in his eyes. His lips curved upward yet again.
“Thank you.” I said, and grabbed his cold hand. He jumped a little and was startled by the sudden contact.
“F-for what?” He asked confused.
“This. I had fun tonight.” I explained.
“Me too.” He replied simply. In that moment, I wanted nothing more than to savor this moment. I leaned in towards his lips and he began to lean too. I felt his warm breath on my face but just before our lips came into contact, he turned his head to the side a little.
“I’m sorry.” I said quickly and pulled away. I looked at him. He was crying but trying hard to hide it.
“No, no. I’m sorry.” He turned and began walking back to my apartment. I followed a short distance behind him until we reached my door. He walked in and shut himself in my bedroom. I’m such a horrible person.
I lied down on the couch and covered my eyes with my hands.
“What have you gotten yourself into, Vic?” I whispered to myself before falling into an uneasy sleep just to be waken a few hours later by a loud scream.
[text_hash] => 69971487
)