By Your Hand

“Jem! Wait!” My feet squelched in the mud. I had to throw my hands up to block the morning sunlight in my face.

“Wait for what?” He grimaced, slowing his pace enough that I could catch up.

“What’s going on with you and Aiden?” I questioned. “Are you really related?”

Jem rubbed his temples. “Aiden was my adopted brother. My mom couldn’t have any more children after she had me, so, she found him and took him in. He got hit by a car and was killed instantly. That was when he just turned seventeen. Needless to say, my mother was completely wrecked when he died.”

“I’m so sorry.” I sympathized. “What did you mean when you said he left, though?”

Jem’s grey eyes hardened. “He and I got into a fight right before he ran out the door and into the street where he got hit. I told him he needed to be more involved with me and my mother. He took offense, and said that he had the right to leave whenever he wanted. So he did.”

“Oh my god.” I covered my mouth. “He never told me.”

“Yeah. I wonder why.” Jem snorted.

“He’s been with me forever, and he never mentioned much of anything like THAT before.” I murmured.

“He never wanted to hurt anyone, so I guess he just decided to hide the truth.” Jem collapsed on the ground, leaning against a tree.

“Hey.” I sat down next to him, watching his grey eyes fill with tears. “A big, strong boy like you isn’t going to cry, right?”

He didn’t answer, just simply buried his blonde head into his knees and breathed in and out slowly.

I sighed and stared out into the woods. “You know, when I was a little girl and moving in and out of foster homes, I never thought anyone would love me or even care about my mere existence, until I ended up in the hospital and Aiden helped me.”

“He wasn’t a bad guy, he was just impulsive.” Jem defended.

“Oh, I know. I’m just saying that Aiden wouldn’t do anything on purpose to hurt you or your mom.”

“I know that.” Jem buried his head deeper into his legs.

I rubbed his back. “Come on, we’re going to miss breakfast. You have to get up, okay?”

“Okay.” He replied. I stood up and held out a hand. He grabbed on and I pulled him up, and in doing so, I slipped in the mud. Again.

Jem caught me, wrapping his arm around my waist. “Don’t fall again, Viv.”

I wiped a stray tear off his cheekbone. “I don’t plan on it.”

As he let go of my waist, I glanced back into the cabin, only to see the curtains move and Aiden stare out the window forlornly.

Notes