A Different Path

Chapter 11 - Not a Problem

"You don't ruin anything," he brushed my hair from my face again, smiling with sympathy. "If I had the same childhood you did, I'd be acting the same way you are." 

"It's not like you had a great one, though," I said, beginning to calm down.

"Well, no, but I wasn't getting beat day in and day out, both verbally and physically," I looked away from him as he spoke, finally starting to allow myself to believe what he was saying, and agree with it. "Crutchie, if you don't tell me what's wrong, though, I can't help." I looked back at him now, sighing.

"I just... I had a really f-ed up dream," I said, and Jack chuckled as I said 'f-ed,' making me smile, too. He then settled back down, wiping my face gently with his thumb.

"What happened?"

"It started with me running home from school. I guess I had a bad day, because I got bullied real bad, and it was just worse than usual or something. I went to my room and eventually my Mom opened the door, and hugged me." I felt a few tears stream down my face, and I prepared for what I had to say next. "When she let go, we were standing and I didn't have my crutch. She had a suitcase and I asked where she was going, and she just said that she was leaving. I begged her to take me with her. She just... Stared at me blankly." I took a shaky breath, looking away from Jack for just a moment. "She told me that I'd be a problem, and when I looked down, I had my crutch again. I asked her one more time to take me with, but she still refused. She said I'd be weighing her down and that I wasn't worth it." Jack kissed my forehead once I had finished, making me feel better.

"None of that is true. Those are the words of your Dad being said by your Mom, just because your brain is mean." I laughed a little, making him smile. "You know that, right?" I nodded, looking down.

"Mhm, but it still just... Messes me up." I spoke quietly again, looking back at Jack. 

"You never told me that you were bullied," he said, making my heart drop. 

"Oh," was all I could say, feeling embarrassed. 

"You never got a break, did you?" He asked, and I shook my head.

"Being here is the first time I've gotten a break since I was born." Jack looked upset as I spoke, pushing my hair back a third time.

"What happened? I mean, at school, what went on?" 

"It's embarrassing," I said, looking down.

"How?" He asked, and I kept looking away from him.

"'Cause it just proves that I'm weak," I mumbled, looking back to him.

"No it doesn't, Crutchie," he said, smiling a little. 

"They just beat me up and said things to me, especially about my limp." I rubbed my eyes, wiping my face dry again.

"I know you said your foot's been givin' you trouble for a while, but how long?" I thought for a moment, not really sure. 

"I think it started when I was... Eight? That's when my Dad broke my leg and it never healed right." Jack seemed to grow angry now, not at me, but at my Dad.

"Did he not get a doctor to help you?" He asked, and I shook my head.

"No, he thought I was lying, so I just had to walk on it as best I could. After it happened he just kept targeting it, which is what made it get worse and worse. I never used anything to help me walk until now." I shifted just a little closer to Jack, trying to warm myself up a bit. "The kids in my class did the same. They would yell things at me and make fun of my limp when I walked. Whenever they beat me up, they targeted my foot, just like my Dad." Jack took a deep breath as I spoke, likely trying to calm down.

"You didn't deserve any of that, Crutchie," he said with a smile, and I couldn't help but smile back. We stayed silent for a moment, both of us lost in thought.

"You're the only person in my life to show me love," I said, continuing to look at him.

"What about your Mom?" He innocently asked, and I couldn't help but tense up as I prepared to accept the truth.

"If she loved me, she wouldn't of left me behind." I got out, choking up a little. I felt that I was about to cry again, so I shifted closer to Jack, burying my head in his shirt. "Please don't ever go," I whispered, feeling Jack put his arms around me.

"I promise that I'm not goin' anywhere," he whispered back, holding me even tighter.

"I love you," I said, feeling more exhausted than ever.

"I love you too," Jack said back, kissing me on the head again. I fell asleep just minutes later, as I couldn't fight it anymore, despite how badly I wanted to stay up and talk.

(word count - 2298)