did you hear about river?

Chapter 10

"You're Echo?" Elijah asks me and Jolie and Sacha go away.

I can't believe I just did. I knew I had a knack to share a lot when I was tired but this was sharing.

Maybe Jolie was right that I needed to share with someone who I was going to raise a child with but it was still difficult.

I go to my room, our room. and pace around.

Elijah follows me in.

"You're Echo! How could you keep this from me? How?!" He says and shouts but lowers his voice when he remembers that Maxy is asleep and this could simulate his biological parents own fights.

"I'm sorry. I stop associating with that part of myself a long, long time ago. I just wanted to experience your comfort again without the prejudice, without the hatred you had towards me. I needed a friend Elijah, just one, singular friend." I say as I burst into tears, again.

"You wanted, me?" He's confused now and I was confused too but I realised why.

"Elijah you were the only friend I ever had when I was younger. The only friend. It didn't matter what my parents said, you stuck by me and you continued to be my friend. You only stopped when I told you that I bullied Finneas and I chose the room as punishment, even if I didn't. I understand, you stuck by Finneas because he's your best friend and I know I would stick by my best friend too, I would stick by JJ any time of the day if she was subjected to what I had apparently done to Finneas. I know that he just told you to do everything and I know for certain that you didn't think about me in it but rather how you could defend him. Your brother and your best friend in one. I understand why you wanted to impress my parents, to become part of the family after your dad died. I really just needed you and I knew you wouldn't help me unless you didn't know it was me." I wait for him to say how stupid I was for that, how I was the bully, anything rude or condescending but he doesn't. I realise that's not Elijah anymore. He's not that person anymore.

He comes up to me and hugs me and I cry in to his shoulder.

"I'm sorry, for everything. I didn't even know you had cancer or aplastic anemia and I knew deep down that you didn't do any of that. I thought I could find my own dad in yours so I started hanging out there everyday, doing the 'manliest' things. Your father was never particularly impressed but it didn't take me long to realise that he wasn't ever happy with Finneas either, just that Finneas wasn't a girl who misbehaved but rather a boy and he was fine with that. I so wish that I'd spent that time with my own family, with people who actually loved me and I know that you spent time with them so they wouldn't feel lonely without me. How I wish that I'd have listened to you but not your words but you, your eyes, they were so sad and frightened and tired and your body was so fragile and weak and I chose to ignore it. I am so, so, sorry and I am so grateful that you chose to even still conside me as someone to talk to again let alone raise a child with." He hugs me tightly and I cry even more as I wrap my arms around him.

I really missed Elijah.