Touch Me

Consolation

A shrill ringing from my phone woke me around one in the morning. I picked it up haphazardly, flipping it open.

"Hello..?"

"Hi. D-Did I wake you?" Kevin's voice sounded hoarse on the other end.

"No.. No. What's up?"

He sighed heavily.

"Can you... Can you come see me.?"

"Uhhh yeah.... Is everything okay?"

"Yeah.. just... can you meet me at the school again? My dad's still home."

"Yeah... I-I'll be right there.."

"Thank you. I'll see you then." He hung up.

I rolled out of bed and pulled my shoes on, opening my window. The doors were too loud for me to leave through them without waking my grandfather. I was able to exit through the window nearly effortlessly, the only thing slowing me was the exhaustion caused by the early hour. The sidewalk was covered in puddles, the previously heavy rain falling to a drizzle.

I reached the school soon enough, my water splashing onto my ankle with every step I took, unable to see properly and avoid the puddles. Kevin was already there, his hair soaked from the rain.

"Kevin.. Baby..." I rushed over to him.

He looked up at me. I was unable to tell what were tears and what were rain drops on his cheek.

"Are you okay? How are you doing?" I set my hand on his shoulder and kneeled down next to him.

"Fine."

"You don't look fine."

"I just... I just needed to see you." He sniffed

"Okay. Well, I'm right here." My hand fell to his back.

"Thank you for coming.."

"Of course. What's wrong?"

"My dad.."

"What happened?"

"He said he wanted to take me to live w-with him so I wouldn't.. be with you anymore."

"Kevvy.."

"M-My mom won't let him do that, but.. he's persistent."

"God, are you okay?"

"Yeah. I'm okay. I just.. I needed to see your face. A-And I couldn't stay there. And.. he certainly wouldn't have wanted to see you at my house" He scoffed, trying to play off his sadness.

"Well.. as I said... I'm right here. Talk as much as you need."

"C-Can I just.. can I....?" He sighed and gave up on attempting to finish what he was saying, pulling me closer into a hug, holding onto me as tightly as he possibly could.

His clothes were cold and damp from being out in the rain for so long. His breaths were short and shaky, but it's difficult to tell if it's from the cold or anxiety.

"It's okay, Baby..." I whispered

"I-I hate him so much.." he whimpered.

"I know. And you're allowed to hate him. You're entitled to feeling that way."

"I shouldn't hate my own father..! A-Am I a bad person? I feel like a bad person..."

"You're not a bad person. Just because you're related, that doesn't give him the right to treat you poorly. And just because you're related, that.. that doesn't mean you have to tolerate it."