Too Keen For Me

Chapter 17: As If Reading My Mind

He smiled as he took it and got up from the ground. He wrapped his arm around me for support and slipped his shoes on.

"Where are we going then?"

I may have not been anywhere exciting in my life, but I did know this town like the back of my hand. "It's a surprise," I said as I helped him out the door.

By the time we made it to his car, Miles was out of breath and unstable. Whatever treatment he was on took too much of a toll on him.

He got into the car and slowly moved his legs into a comfortable position. Anger was in his eyes as he hit his leg in frustration. "I didn't want to go anywhere Isla, why am I even here?" he shouted as I turned the car on.

I wanted to hug him, but the space in car wouldn't allow it. This time, I was pushing him. "You need to go somewhere," I said as I got out of the garage.

I went down roads and streets in silence until I finally turned off another road, which quickly turned into a dirt one. The car shook slightly as I continued to drive forward, but I wouldn't stop. I knew where I was going, and Miles would soon know one of the few places I took no one to.

I hadn't been to this spot in over a year but knew it by memory.

As trees loomed over us, the road got smaller. I swore, nothing had changed since I drove Dad up here a few weeks before he died.

Way back when Dad showed me this place, it was his secret. For so long, I couldn't force myself back. But seeing Miles, it was enough of a push to work my way up the mountain tops.

Within a few minutes, we made it to a turnoff point for hikers. Miles was in no condition to hike, but he could at least enjoy the view and I could too.

Quietly, I parked the car and looked at Miles to see him looking out the window.

"This is beautiful," Miles said as he looked at the view.

I nodded. The views never got old. This is where Dad and I went to be free. The mountain tops were just as beautifully unique as ourselves. "I know." I got out of the car, then went to his side to open the car door for him.

He got out with some difficulty and eventually leaned on me for support. We walked to the edge of the cliff. Below us stood tall evergreens with a little snow from the night before. I shivered as a blast of cold air hit me, but I refused to move. "Now, shout."

He looked at me as if I was crazy. And maybe I was, but I knew this would make him feel better, he just had to try. Dad came up with this and I just followed in his footsteps.

"Go on. No one will hear you. Shout, scream, get your frustrations out. The trees will keep your secrets."

He eyed me, not believing me.

"Trust me on this one, Miles." I took a deep breath, filling my lungs with air. "I HATE ISAAC CONNELLY!" I shouted on the hilltop. The sound echoed through the trees, causing birds to fly from their hiding places, chirping, mimicking my shout, until there was silence again.

"Who is Isaac Connelly?" Miles asked with concern.

"My ex and a terrible excuse for a human. Now it's your turn." I didn't want to dive into details. We both needed to shout, not talk right now.

He nodded, not asking any more about the subject. Silently, he took a deep breath then yelled. "I'M MILES KEEN AND I'M MY OWN PERSON!"

"Felt good, didn't it?"

"Yeah, it did." For a second, I saw joy flash in his eyes. He felt free, probably for the first time in a while.

"I HAVE MS AND SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE CRAP!" he shouted again.

"There you go! Get it out!"

I looked at the view and thought about the last time I was here. I had to hold Dad as he shouted into the woods. I never thought that would be the last time I would be here. "I MISS YOU DAD! I WISH YOU WERE STILL HERE!" My eyes stung with tears but this time, I didn't hold them back.

If Dad was here, he could help me with Isaac. Even though I was right beside Miles, I still felt so alone and isolated.

"I FEEL ALONE!" Miles said as if reading my mind.

I nodded. He wasn't the only one.

After we shouted out all our emotions, we found ourselves on the ground, next to the car, looking out at the view in front of us.

I leaned against the car, then shivered as an icy wind blew through the trees as the sun set. "Who's Izzy?" I asked finally, referring to that text that I read a few days ago. That text still floated around in my mind like a buoy in water. As much as I tried to push it away, it would just bounce back with the waves of my thoughts.

"She's no one. I promise. She's just some girl Rodger wants me to date."

He didn't want to be with her. I believed him.

"I'm so sick of Rodger telling me who to be with," Miles chucked a rock over the mountain, causing a few birds to fly from their resting spots.

"Then why don't you fire him? Get someone new?"

He shook his head. "I can't. It's not that easy."