The darkness of the night is the only constant in Louis life. He can always count on the light of the moon to peak though his window and call his name. "We are waiting for you, our dear, son. Come to us." It beacons him to follow, but deep down he has no clue where it is leading him. He only knows that he wont be satisfied when morning comes. The sun will always appear and chase away the shadows the night brings. Bringing forth the demons he is hiding from.
What demons can a child even have at 16? It sounds impossible to be so troubled at such a young age, but he is. He doesn't know when is started or why but he can never get rid of the emptiness that is settled within him. The loneliness is embedded into his every crevice and no matter how many people he surrounds himself by it always comes back. He has friends that he loves and a best friend that has been through everything with him but when they all go their separate ways after school and he gets home an instant dark clouds forms above his head. The darkness masks its appearance in the shape of his new adoptive father. His body is so used to sadness, that its hard wired into him as his normal setting.
Which brings us back to where we're at now. In the dark of the Louis' bedroom. He pulls back his covers and sits up in bed listening to the stillness of his house. There is no noise coming from the other room only the small whispers of his fathers breaths can be heard. He gets up slowly watching out for the creaky floorboard. He makes his way to his desk picking up a stray sweatshirt left on his chair from earlier, gathers his shoes in his hand, and creeps towards his window. He waits to put his shoes on not willing to risk the loudness of his steps with them on, he can worry about putting them on when he is outside.
He finally gets to the window, unlocking it and being careful to duck under it without it slamming shut on top of him. Looking ahead he can see the stillness of the streets with nothing but streetlights to keep it alive. The chilled air hits him and he can instantly feel his skin numb. He puts his shoes on and from there everything is just autopilot, as he climbs down from the second story house using a nearby tree for leverage. He jumps down from the last branch as he sees there's only a few feet that separate him and the earth. Slapping his hands together to rid himself of the dirt of the tree, he makes his way to the street.
He feels tethered to the moon as he begins his walk in the only direction that has ever felt right. His mind is blank as he stares at the shadows the moon makes in his path. It's late, so late that not even the nature outside is making any noise. Louis feels like he could walk forever on nights like these. When there's no life around him and the sound is that of his own breathing.
Naturally Louis steps come to a halt as his destination comes into view. The moonlight being the only thing lighting the art that covers the old abandoned bridge. As he progresses he follows the path that is now dusted over with no traces of any life having had passed over in years. He carefully maneuvers himself to the edge of the bridge that overlooks the water. He sit swinging his feet back and forth completely out to the world as his thoughts begin to take over and take him to another dimension as he disassociates.
He doesn't know how long he's been staring of into the distance when he suddenly hears the crackle of branches behind him. In all of his trips to the bridge he's never encountered another person, or animal for the fact. He's taken by surprise when he sees another person moving in between the dark of the trees.
"Hello" he shout whispers into the air afraid to speak to loud and disturb the quite of the night.
"Oh shit" he hears whispered under the strangers breadth. "Sorry I didn't know anyone actually came all the way out here"
Louis remains quite as the stranger comes closer. Louis eyes adjust to take in this new found stranger who cant be any older than himself. He's been staring at him for a while, it isn't until the stranger is right in front of him that Louis notices he hasn't once stopped.
"I'm Harry" the stranger smirks. His teeth glistening white in the dark being the only thing Louis can decipher.
"Ummm... I'm.... Louis". Silence follows his sentence as Harry merely stares back with no response.
Avoiding his intense stare Louis looks back into the horizon feet resuming their swinging. Harrys stare burns into the side of Louis face, he doesn't know what he's still doing there or whether he should just get up and leave. His curiosity takes over and he turns to Harry once again. As their eyes meet Harrys mouth stretches into a wide grin.
"Mind if i sit" he gestures to Louis right. "I feel like i should be be running away actually, no normal person is out at this time of night" Louis jokes, though his words do hold some truth. He's a little worried as to why he hasn't made an attempt to leave but Harrys presence doesn't bother him as much as he feels it should. Harry simply snorts as a response and takes a seat anyway. "A little late for a kid like you to be out here" harry says as he too stares into the distance. "Im not a kid" is Louis response. Harry laughs in return. "Sure kid, what are you, like 12... 13, does anyone even know you're out here?". Louis fidgets with his fingers only now realizing just how dangerous his situation can escalate to, he's alone and no one knows his whereabouts.
Harry seems to notice the tension that has arisen between then and chooses to remain silent thinking about his next words. "Im 19, live just a town over Brixton... felt like a good time for a walk, couldn't really sleep". Louis remains silent for a minute before he squeaks out "Same... ummm I'm 16 by the way, don't know of I should be telling you where I live with you being a stranger and all" Harry chuckles at that, "But I live in Riverview".
Harry gasps, "Damn kid how'd you get all the way out here, that's quite the commute". Louis sends him a cheeky smile "I thought we just went over this Im not a kid, and honestly the walk isn't even that far."
"Cute but 16 definitely makes you just a baby in my books. What are you even doing out here?"
Louis visibly blushes at being called cute he only hopes it can be disguised by the fact that its pitch dark outside. Choosing to ignore the first part of his sentence he answers "I don't really know, most nights I can't help but feel trapped at home so I come out here. Don't really know why I just know being here gives me some relief from everything.... The calm never last though." Harry blinks back at him not really knowing what to say to this kid to sooth him. If anything Harrys worry only spikes as he's looking at this kid who looks broken and lost.
With no more desire to continue the conversation both boys just choose to bask in the silence of each others presence.
YOU ARE READING
The Graffiti Bridge
Fanfiction"Most nights I can't help but feel trapped at home so I come out here. Don't really know why I just know being here gives me some relief from everything.... The calm never last though." Louis is a young boy looking for an escape in the darkness that...
