Devon turned away slightly, staring somewhere to the left of Raven’s shoulder. “My brother…” His voice faltered, hands now jammed in his hoodie pocket. “He used to say that all the time. ‘Don’t worry. Sorry for worrying you.’ Over and over. It—”
Raven tilted his head, gently. “It what?”
Devon’s eyes stayed on the ground, unmoving. Then, barely audible:
“…No more.”
He started walking toward the porch without another word.
Raven stood there for a second, wind brushing past, trying to make sense of everything that had just fallen between them like broken glass. Then, without a word, he followed.
They sat on the porch steps, side by side, quiet. Raven still in his rumpled uniform, shirt wrinkled, socks mismatched. Devon leaning back, head against the rail, gaze trained on the sky like it might have answers.
Neither of them spoke.
But after a while, Raven exhaled and leaned forward, arms resting on his knees.
Devon didn’t look at him, but he shifted slightly—just enough for their shoulders to almost touch.
It wasn’t dramatic.
No breakthrough.
No big confessions.
Just two boys under a bruised sky.
Sitting.
Staying.
Still.
And for once, that was enough.
Who knew friendship could be so euphoric?
___________
Raven woke up before his alarm.
That hadn’t happened in weeks.
His body still ached. His muscles still throbbed in quiet rebellion. His eyes still stung from lack of sleep. But for the first time in a long time, his chest didn’t feel like it was caving in the moment he opened his eyes.
I'm not fine.
But I'm not drowning either.
The memory of the porch—Devon’s voice, his hands in his hoodie, the way they’d just sat there—lingered like the first touch of warmth after winter.
I wish Devon was my broth—
He cancelled that thought before it brought back memories that weren't supposed to resurface.
He showered slower that morning. Ate a piece of toast instead of skipping breakfast. Checked on his mom, who was still sleeping peacefully, and left her a sticky note on the fridge with a cartoon smiley face he used to draw as a kid.
Kids, huh...? All smiles and no problems. I'm so envious of my childhood days right now..
By the time he got to school, the halls felt… quieter.
He moved through them without the frantic pace, without feeling like he was outrunning collapse. His shoulders were still heavy, but something inside was steadier.
Then came the announcement over the intercom that, truthfully, startled him to the point that he wanted to panic. But he managed to hold himself.
“Raven Eli, please report to the principal’s office.”
—————
The principal was a balding man with a kind face and a perpetually worried crease between his brows. He gestured to the chair across from his desk.
YOU ARE READING
‡† The Unseen †‡
General Fiction"Two boys. Two shadows. One chance to fix one another." _________________ "A friendship that goes beyond brotherhood. One that explains cries. And pain. And smiles. And silence." _________________ [Disclaimer: This is not a gay novel..] After deat...
12 † Reciprocated †
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