[a short story about letting go, complete at 8k words ]
Wheelchair-bound and dream crushed, Esme Lance gives life one last chance, but at that, all she can do is sit back and watch Devon Zachary die.
❝ i don't know if you think about me, but I know that I do ❞
When he whispered my name from the the room outside, he stood by the lockers'. My heart leapt and the stars inside my stomach burst at his sight.
"Esme?" He asked, his shoulders slouched, he looked weak and I wanted to help him. but I couldn't bring myself to ask anything, my eyes were on his eyes and it was magical.
"Sorry about your accident. I hope you're legs fine" The way he recited the warnings was stage-worthy but deep inside, I knew he felt a pang of pity, pity for the broken girl standing before him.
"Oh, it's all right"
"Do you want my help?" Devon's blue ocean eyes sparkled, like he wanted me to say yes. His voice was music to my ears. I wanted to say yes. I would say yes.
But my throat refused to let air pass through. My tongue felt like lead and my hands were gripped to my wheel.
Devon smiled then. Maybe he saw myinability to communicate. I felt stupid.
"So that's a yes."
He went behind my wagon and I felt his weak hands grip the handles without warning, he pushed it, the wheels groaning. He wheeled me through the school corridors and we reached the exit.
At the ramp for disabled kids like me, he rolled me through with utmost caution, like I was fragile.
And at that moment, I had the biggest smile on my face.
━━
Jane drops me off at school, I get out of the car without saying goodbye. She doesn't need one because her white sedan is already gone.
My bag is on my lap as I wheel to the entrance and I meet an unexpected person.
Ruston Lockwood.
"I'll help you, Esme?" he asks politely. He's Devon's close friend and I'm more than happy to see him.
"Yes, thank you, Ruston."
He wheels me up the ramp and I tell him my classroom number on the way. My hands itch to ask him where Devon is and I take a breath and do, my hands folded on my lap, clinging to the straps of my lightweight bag.
"Is Devon away?" my voice comes out hoarse.
"Um... He'll come this Friday. He should, of course. I'm glad you asked because everyone here wants him when he has cancer and... Nobody really asks if he's away or if he's dead in some other country." Ruston sighs heavily and I swallow hard.
"I care about him" because I like him. I like Devon Zachary. I like his shaved head. I like the scar on his shaved head. I like his voice. I like everything about that boy. But I don't tell him because he doesn't need to know right now.
"He asked if you were fine too. I guess he cares about you too, Esme" Ruston comes to a stop outside room B-340. "See you around"
"Thank you, Ruston"
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