stranger, soulmate, lover.✔️

today.

Today I didn't want to wake up. My eyes drifted in every which way to keep me awake. I didn't want to open them, I didn't want to face people, I didn't want to face things. I certainly didn't want to face the boy outside of my window, or the thought of a dead best friend, or even the responsibilities of my little sibling. I just wanted to lay here.

I got up though, I always did. I got up and got dressed and I dressed my little brother too, I fixed his hair and I straightened his clothes. I made breakfast for the two of us, I taught him step by step how to subtract big numbers, and I walked both of us to school.

Everything happened the same as it always did. I'd listen, I'd stop. Sometimes I'd even rest my head against the surface of the cold hard desk in hope of some kind of beneficial rest. Afterward, I'd go to practice, warm up, and listen to coach yell at us about how incompetent our asses are.

And I'd run, two miles then three then four. I wouldn't stop until my legs hung limb and my lungs caught fire. I wouldn't stop until I felt what I needed to feel, and then I'd go get my little brother. The only kid left at the school, I'd walk him home.

....

Mom came with takeout, she apologized for the inconvenience of not making a full-cooked meal and went straight to bed, it didn't bother me anymore, I sat silently, a-mute like I always did, and looked at the television screen.

I took Hamlet to bed, that's my brother's name, well not exactly. He's Handerson, he's my favorite person. I went outside and ran, I let the coldness hit my insides and I sped up. This was my favorite feeling.

I didn't notice the boy at first, the boy I'd seen in front of my yard last night sitting on a curve stomp. I didn't notice him until I ran into him. He groaned leaning up with his broken phone in one hand, quickly picking himself up before looking up at the asshat who'd done this.

I sat silently, waiting for him to throw stern cuss words my way. Instead, he dusted himself off while picking apart the things that fell in his hair. "I'm sorry." My voice has always been a little weak due to the aftermath of trauma, it's one of the reasons why I never like to speak to strangers, especially not ones that I accidentally tackle.

"Are you okay?" The boy asked, it threw me off a bit that the hurt guy would ask that, or so I thought. "Are you okay?" I questioned instead, he nodded picking up his skateboard and lying it against that curve while he holds one side of it against his foot.

"I'm fine, sorry about that. It's pretty dark out here." I didn't respond, only took a step back to create a better space for my own comfortability. He didn't say anything and instead smiled, "You're the boy I saw through the window last night? Sorry if it seemed like I was stalking, I just like riding down this street."

"You new here?" I questioned and he gave a small smirk. "Uh-huh, right down the street. I heard that the high school here has great opportunities for competitive sports, so I'm looking forwards to joining the hockey team this year." My eyes widen at his statement. Hockey? "You play hockey?" I asked and he chuckled.

"Playing is an understatement, I thrive on the ice, you know?" I nodded like I actually knew, looking up at the street lights as I turned towards his phone instead. "Did I crack your phone?" He shook his head quickly putting it inside of his pocket. "Nah, it's already fucked up. No major damage done."

He said and I looked the other direction, I can tell this guy pulls girls, lots of them at that.

He's good-looking and athletic.
"Great. I gotta go. Sorry again."