Listen before you speak1-2

ing from him twice a year on my birthday and Christmas, where I didn't need to talk to him, because he knew I didn't talk at all. He encouraged that. He didn't want me to speak. I don't even thin

t to help me now

, but since it opened by itself I sat right back down on the top of my bed, wishing I could sink behind it and get tr

the door behind him and took the two steps to my

ammit! I had one lousy slip or two. I did

to your mother las

I just wanted her to stop crying. To stop hurting all the time. I wanted her to smile and

his remember?" he whispered this time, making very sure tha

f a bitch! Yes, I remember why I sto

f all the innocent people that would get hurt." His eyes were moc

ymore. You are going to have to talk. To me and to your mother. The rules are changing again,

that I could pull it down low over my eyes so that he could not s

saying it. It just slipped out. I wa

er to me, grabbed me by the arm and pulled me close to his face. I could smell garlic on his breath. I could see the yellow stains of nicoti

s for the rest... You will keep your mouth shut. Not a word from your greasy little mouth, you hear. You got us into this shit and you better get us out. And as soon as I'm sure you won't ta

the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts, which I also wanted to get as far away fro

x hidden beneath my bed, and crawled over t

t warm again. The warmth that overtook me. The physical pain that masked the emotional pain I was feeling inside.

*

. Tap. T

hought a bird was hitting its beak against my window, but a voice that

ija

ndow and to my

la

tremely shy, as if he didn't know what to say. I lifted my

show you," he said, only barel

I was sneaking out of the house af

lake said, raising his head and showin

ad furiously, waving hi

t we're not fighting! Could it be t

it was also his voice, butchering one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard completely. He although ignored the sh

am trying! I know you're wear

ng another word that belon

shut, grabbing a pair of jeans and a hoodie, yanking it on, and darting down t

oing? Was I really th

re, a huge grin plastered to his face, his hands behind h

so that I could sit down and put my shoes on. Damn, this kid was beyond annoying. You don't

stepped out of the house. I then turned towards Blake and gave h

u!" he said and he took my hand and pulled me t

e a good block from my house he let go of my hand and walked toward a motorcycle standing on the side of the road, grab

e, the sooner you can get home," Blake said and g

torcycle. For a spilt second I had the idea of turning around and running for all I was worth, away from this stalker-dude tha

lmet, I assumed that he was laughing about how stupid I was to get on a bike with a perfect stranger I have literally not even spoken a full ten wo

want to think at all. All I wanted to do was get the helmet off my head so that I could feel the wind in my hair as I flew towards the f

e were still in town anymore. I could not see houses, or shops, or other motorists anymore

ked my arms tighter around his waist, my fingers touching each other, but als

bumpy to say the least, and it seemed to go on forever. This time I didn't feel free. I felt like I was goi

down. For a moment I felt like I wouldn't be able to stand. My knees felt like jelly and my hands were shaking, but because of some miracle I was able to pull the helmet

sked as I sat down beside him. He turned

ike I ever smiled, so when I smiled you had to know

ke asked, but without a sing

talk to anybody. Everything gets weird when I start t

ted one," he said as he turned his head to look at the view. I felt invisible, as i

to break out. We get stagnated. We get trapped. That cell we put oursel

't want him to feel pain. I wanted to take it away; out of his voi

ferent from you Elijah. I'm also broken. From afar you won't see it, because I have been glued together, but if you stand still and look closely you will see that the crack

e's head was still turned away from me, looking at the view

ht my eyes and I could see the tears

lijah." It wa

answered. "I

a hold of my upper arm firmly. He phrase

how to do in awkward situations

regret this moment? Do you want to grow old all alone because you were too afraid to open your mouth and talk to someone?

in the back of my eyes. Knowing that he was right. Knowing that one