Falling Together

A Picture is a Memory

MAISIE

It had been a long day. First a plane ride. Then the PTSD episode, and then a long malicious game of monopoly with my dad, brother and cousins. Needless to say I was ready to pass out. I'm tucking myself under the covers of the purple comforter my father had bought for me the last summer I was here when there's a knock at the door.

"Come in." I say sitting up.

Noah walks in and smiles a small smile and closes the door behind him. "Hey Maisie."

"Hey. What's up?"

He started to say something and then stopped, frowning like he still hadn't figured out what he was gonna say. He moves to sit down on the corner of my bed and took a deep breath like he was settling in for a long talk. The thought immediately makes me tense.

"Noah, stop. Please. If this is about today, I don't want to talk about it."

"I know you don't. And I know I promised dad I'd leave you be about it and just be there when you need me, but the truth is that's not good enough. I don't want you to tell me what happened, that's not it. I can totally respect not asking you to relive it. But..."

"But what?" I ask, not understanding.

"Is there anything I can do to stop it from happening?" He asks, turning to me with sad looking eyes.

"Oh..." I was shocked. " Well I had talked with dad about what triggers me when he came down to see me in the hospital after... he never told you?"

"Truth is when dad came back he didn't share much. And over the past few months it hasn't been much of a conversation starter." he says, rubbing the back of his neck. " He just said that you 're working on getting better and that you were going to come live with us to make that happen. He was so psyched you were gonna live here that nothing else really got talked about." He explains.

I think for a moment trying to find the right words without bringing back memories and decide on being blunt.

"Strangers. People I don't know. If they touch me, or when people scare me from behind. One time it happened from a scream coming from the TV."

Noah takes it in and nods understanding.

"Ok. So no new people and keep the horror shows to a minimum. I can do that." He smiles. Seeing Noah smile is like hitting a reset button in my head. It reminds me of all the simple times we had as kids where there was nothing to worry about. His smile made me feel more at home than I had in months.

"Hey, can I ask a question now?"

"Go for it." He says, still smiling reassuringly at me.

"That guy.. the one who.. the one dad fired. Dad said something about him already being a problem before today. And the way he talked to you after.. What's his story?"

"Ah, well. His family is a bit notoriously known on the island. There's lots of rumors about his family and drugs. I've never seen anything though. His dad and brothers are always into trouble with bar fights down at Roses place."Rose being one of our Aunts. " His dad is a tough mean looking dude, but one day he came to dad asking for a favor. Said that he wanted better for Drew because he was the youngest. Dad said that as a father he understood and would give him the chance as long as there was no funny business."

"So there were other things he's done besides today?"

"He has a buddy that comes around. He's definitely bad news. He tried to pick a fight with our other mechanic Dax. Dax sorted it out before it got outta hand though."