Love Lost

t see them. He sat alone at lunchtime simply watching the scene around him, then when classes were over,

ter him and turning to face the small room. It

his bed, moving over towards the window

off in the distance casting is orange glow upon

gh, tilting his h

constant feeling of anxiety he felt when he

f focus at all that was before him, throug

tiful world

t see Aubrey or any of the others, and

one of the boys waved to him, but

rich

Haru b

the boy said as he walked

ey went on, turning away and

tiously with wide eye

oat, hands going to his chest as

h, forcing himself to stay calm as a

e days. As he straightened up again, arms dropping to his side

ng his head to the side an

to feel l

aightening his body and s

PE, that he was playing a gam

e gardeners in his home. It had always been a lot of fun, and they had all smiled and laughed

a fielder. For a long time, he had stood there doing nothing. At first, he had tried to keep

ind in another place entirely, s

istance away, his eyes began to wate

lowly with the back of his hand and

…' he h

WAKE

nly, seeing the ball

ll!' one of the

rning and running in th

f the boys on his team. He stood there uncertainly as several beg

t are you

' Haru called n

e him, but he couldn't hea

t, and he clutched at his heart

around him as he bowed his head again, block

his gasps deeper as he began to hyperventilate. His vis

k!' someone called, as the

speaking calmly into Haru's ear, telling him to contr

cher put Haru's arm over his shoulders, lifting

nurse, where he was even

fore him. She was kind, and through her ki

now?' she asked him

The box of tissues sat on his lap, s

rusting his voice to speak, 'I