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So, that’s where I go.
I head outside toward the tree that faces the small lake that lies right beyond the outskirts of the trailer park we live in. A small piece of land that allows us both to pretend we don’t live here with parents who don’t care about us.
In the winter, the water freezes, and I love to watch Aiden skate. In the warm months, once the frost is gone, he likes to stare out into the horizon, I like too also.
Sometimes, I like to pretend we live in another town far from here. Hell, I’d even be okay living one trailer over with the Matthews. They might be old, but at least I’d know someone cares about me.
A crack of thunder halts my steps for a second. I wait for the sky to open again, but I trudge on when no more rain falls.
I thought the weather would stop him, so I didn’t bother going down the path and out the little hole in the fence that led to where he likes to spend his days. Instead, I wasted time knocking on his door, moving into Peeping Tom territory.
It was a mistake. A big mistake.
When he’s fixated on something, it wouldn’t matter if it were raining; he’d still be in his spot.
That’s how he is. I don’t know why, and after everything he’s done for me, I don’t ask questions. He needs structure, and he needs things to go a certain way.
Those two things I learned early on about him. It was strangely comforting to know that one thing will remain the same in a world full of constant changes.
Aiden is my North Star.
Which is how I know the shadow in the distance is him.
As I continue my trek, I’m hit by the smell of rain that lingers in the air. The ground is still damp from the earlier downpour, and the pungent stink of earthworms is harsh. I don’t let it stop me.
My heart pounds the closer I get to him. It’s always like this. My breath quickens, hands get clammy, and my legs become a bit weak. Today, my reaction is for a different reason.
I heard from one of the other kids who lives in a trailer a few down from his that he was upset. That’s so unlike Aiden, and it has me jittery. I put the kid through an inquisition but got nowhere. He didn’t have any answers for me. It’s what led me to search for Aiden.
Now, fear and worry course through my veins as I imagine what could have happened. Aside from Aiden’s penchant for things to be a certain way, he’s a fortress. One not easily shook.
Taking a few steps, the wind hits my face as droplets of water start to fall from the sky. The farther I get, the harder the rain falls. I’ll be drenched—like a drowned rat—in no time.
Wonderful.
I’m almost there, close enough to make out a body leaning against the trunk of the tree. The branches of the large oak give little coverage from the water belting down from the sky.
It’s Aiden.
His face is buried in his hands.
Shit.
I rush toward him.
My dampened clothes cling to my body, but I don’t care. All that matters is finding out what happened and doing what I can to help. Just like he’d do for me. Like he’s done a million times in the past eight months.
Since the very first day that I got here, he’s protected me. Taken care of me. It’s my turn to reciprocate. To ensure he’s okay.
It’s obvious right off the bat that something terrible has happened. The pain etched on his face makes my chest ache, and my feet slow to a stop. I’m careful not to disrupt him. I’ll be here if he needs me, but I won’t press him right now.
Cautiously, I take a seat on the dirt ground next to him.
He doesn’t react. He doesn’t say a word and doesn’t look my way.
We sit in silence for a few painstaking minutes. My hands twist around each other as I try to remain quiet. When Aiden scoots a little closer to me, I interpret it as a sign that he’s prepared to talk.
I suck in a deep breath. “Aiden, what’s wrong? Why are you out here alone”—I lift my hand, and a raindrop hits it—“in the rain?”
