The Cure

The Ride:

Derek:

"Next stop Augusta, Maine! Please keep all baggage on hand and hang on to arm rests if necessary. At maximum speed..."

I've realized that sometimes I just simply cannot think of anything but my wounds. I try to think of my mother's face yet I am interrupted with the burning of fire that has embedded itself into my mind. I try to think about the feel of my wooden guitar tucked away in the aeroplane's corner but am only reminded of the the burst of flaming trees in the forest. I try to remember Gwen's unamused face when I tell her a particularly bad pun but only remember her pain struck face getting a bullet pulled out of her shoulder and screaming my name outside the ball.

"Why does everything have to hurt...? Why am I always thrown into these kind of things?" The back of my mind whispers.

I feel my facade start to crack and my melancholic mood starts to show. The straight line of my back hunches and bends forward. I wipe my clammy hands with the dense and thick fabric of my jeans and let my forearms rest my thighs. It is then I realize that its been a while since I've had proper rest- bordering a week. It occurs to me that I should be exhausted, I should feel spent, that what I am feeling is not out of the blue or strange under these circumstances. I should- no need sleep. Yet my mind whispers to put it off, just for a little while.

"How are you feeling? Are you okay?" I hear a quiet, guttural voice say. My eyes lift to look at the person and keep contact with them. A small, wrinkled woman is looking back at me. Her eyes are bright and dark, almost black. Her dark skin catches the light and she smiles down at me with unsaid question upon her lips. I look down at my bruised forearms, the tears on the skin of my knuckles, the shakiness in my hands and the medical tape expertly wrapping my burns. I look at her eyes again and see the smile has been replaced with a look of pensiveness all I can do is look at her before she speaks again.

"You're not okay. I can see it you know. In the way you look at the floor; like it'll give you answers." Her voice is a wisp, light and quiet.

It is then that the weight of the world falls down unto my shoulders. Before I realize it my body is crumpling towards hers and a sharp feeling settles in my eyes. I swallow thickly in hopes of keeping my throat from being completely cut off and gasp for air before letting it leave in a shaky sob from my body. I can't form words, there is no sharp, witty sentence in my mind. The only thought a mantra in my mind, repeated like a prayer. "I can't I can't I can't." All I can simply do is shake my head violently.

I cannot see her but I can feel her wrap frail arms around my heaving shoulders and pull me closer to her body. It feels strange and different and disorienting to be comforted instead of being told, "Crying is for girls. Real men don't cry." I had become so accustomed to the scolding of showing my emotions but here in the arms of a kind stranger I feel more at home than I ever did in my family's presence. The soothing words she whispers in my ear and gentle rocking help me to forget the troubles I feel. The world does not melt away, it is not slowly forgotten. But I can feel it dissipate with the gentle press of hands on my back and a promise that everything will be okay in the end.

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A whisper. A touch. A shake.

Suddenly I am am blinking awake with the tattered coat Raven gave me lying next to me, replaced with a thick, quilted blanket. I find myself curled inward upon the seat of the aeroplane and gaze up at the eyes of the woman. She did not look at me with sympathy and pity as I was expecting. Her dark eyes were instead filled with empathy, she gazed down at me like I may be broken and lost but not entirely. I could be whole again.

"Hey, I'm sorry about that. I have no idea what happened to me, I was fine and then..." My voice trailed off into nothingness and I gazed into the obsidian stones that were her eyes. I felt myself starting to quake and curled into myself. "Don't let her see you like this, remember what Dad said. Boys don't cry."

"Son, why are you hiding? That's not good for you in this situation. You wanna know what's happening son?" She slid a hand under my chin so I was looking her right in the eye. Her eyes darted from left to right, inspecting me and drawing a conclusion. I had no idea who she was or even where she was going; these kind of planes didn't really stop; they touched down and then sped away to the next destination.

"You are having what we call a 'mental breakdown.' Basically it happens when you are put in such a stressful situation that you literally cannot function. Your body is physically and mentally exhausted. You need to take a break, child. We're close to my office you can stay there a couple days if you need to, my apartments right above it." She tugged me up by the elbow when the exit alarm went off.

"Hold on, I-I have to find someone that's why I'm here we should be around her next stop I have to find her!" I said stumbling on my own words as I spoke. I had to find Gwen no matter what, I thought I lost her once and I was not going to go through that again.

"Listen son," She set her hands on my shoulders and gave them a quick shake. "I know you want to see this girl but let me tell you something. If this girl, whether she be your sister, your mother, your girlfriend or just your friend, truly cares about you and your well being, she would want you to get help. Would you do the same for her?" She stared deep into my eyes, the question stated simply but it provoked debate in my head on what I should do.

"I-I-I guess I should go with you then. Lead the way."I stuttered out and quickly fell into step behind her.

END OF CHAPTER SIXTEEN