Only a Game (Olympus Drive Chronicles)

Chapter 55: All alone

Teddy

"I hate being me," hot tears bubbled down my fat cheeks.

"Don't ever hate being you. I think you're perfect," my mother said, stroking my hair out of my face.

"I'm always last. And nobody ever picks me. I'm the worst at everything," I sniffled, "Why can't I be good at just one thing?"

"You will be someday, I promise."

"You only think that because you're my mum."

"No, I think that because you are the most perfect little boy in the whole world," she said, putting me in her lap, "And you're so very smart. You don't have to prove yourself. To anyone. And even if no one else ever thinks so, I will always think you're the greatest thing. Ever."

"Dad doesn't think so."

"Yes, he does. We love our gentle little boy. You don't have to win school yard fights, or make the football team, or be the fastest at track, to be important. Being the wonderful, sweet person you are, is so much more important. Than any of those things."

"I'd also like to be good at something."

"Okay. But promise you won't forget the rest?"

"I promise, mummy."

And now she's probably worrying about me. I know she worries about me. That's valid. She's a mum. They tend to worry. But I told her I'd call. And now it's been days. Days. There's no excuse for days of not calling. It makes no sense from the contest's perspective. I know she's bound to be worried about me. And I do try not to worry her.

Nothing for it. I'll be home as soon as I can. I shoulder my backpack, the straps aching and digging cruelly into my shoulders. My face is sweaty under the headset. All I can do is keep following the trail and soldier on. The more I walk. The farther I travel. The closer I am to getting out of this cursed place. I don't want to sleep. Not only because I don't feel like I'm alone here. But also because I want it all to end.