He healed Me

~chapter nineteen~✔️

~chapter nineteen~

The van stopped in the station forecourt. Although the sun was high in the sky, the air was still fresh and cool. Nic turned off the engine and turned to the rear seats.

Andy smiled. "Home..." he said "Exactly," Nic replied. "Home." He got up and went to Dario. Leaning over him, shaking his shoulder. "He fell asleep," he explained, winking at Andy. Dario opened his eyes. "Are we there yet?"

"Home..." Andy repeated.

Dario got up, took his backpack and opened the rear flap. "Well, I guess I don't have to take you there," Nic said. "You know the way." He looked at Dario, who was strapping Andy into the wheelchair. "Are you sure you don't want to stay with us for a while longer? You know, Flora agrees, we talked about it last night. Also together with your friend"

"No, thank you," Dario said. "Andy's been away from home too long." His mouth twisted into a crooked grin. "They're all freaking out anyway." Nick laughed. "You did something nice there, didn't you? my son is really strong. Just like his father."

"Come on, help me," said Dario.

They lifted Andy onto the street. Andy laughed. "Aey," he said to Nic, holding out his hand. "Oh yes, bye" , Nic replied and hugged him tightly. He sat up again, looked at Dario and hugged him. He stopped for a moment and took a deep breath. "I'm sorry," he then said. " I'm sorry if I'm not who you expected." Dario didn't move. Waited for Nic to let go of him. "Well," Nic said. "Then say hello to mom... Or no. .. better not... So, do as you like." He took a step back.

Dario started the motor of the wheelchair. "Ciao, papa," he said. He looked at him. One last time. And drove away.

Head full of thoughts, he rattled up the tree-lined avenue up the hill. A sea of ​​thoughts in which, unexpectedly, his father played the least part. As if it had never existed, as if the playground at the park, Flora, the van, it was all just a dream, something from a distant time, a story he had read in a book years ago, the the time had almost erased from his memory.

And as he rattled down the avenue that led to the school, it seemed to him that some of the pages of this book were flapping away with the wind, up, over the trees, and then towards the sea. He entered the school, wheeled the wheelchair up the ramp, knocked on the principal's door.

Dario went inside. said nothing. Watched the director stand up, pale, lean on the edge of the desk for support. And exhaustion swept over him like a flood-wave.

•••

It was true true, Dario was threatened with a stay in the juvenile detention center. But he knew that, that was inevitable, that had
Even now, as he sat in front of the director in his office, which smelled of cigars, old man, shadows and unspoken threats, even now, especially now, he didn't care. Everyone had gathered in this room, the principal, his deputy, the Delfrati, the school psychologist, the secretary, that hyena, and the janitor, even that one, and he was sneering at him from under his mustache, as if everyone finally had him day of reckoning has come. The only one missing was Elisa with her plump face and unbearable smile. Elisa - Dario didn't know that yet - but didn't work

And Andy was there, Andy and his parents. Dario hadn't looked them in the face once. Keeping his head down since entering the room, just staring at his shoes. He had sat down, nothing more. What was the use of looking at them all? He knew exactly what they were thinking, and they were right, because he felt the same way about himself.

He didn't even look up when the headmaster shook him as if to pluck fruit from an apple tree. "What are we going to do with you?" he shouted.

But he didn't care

he expects.

And he didn't give a shit.

"What should we do?" repeated the Delfrati like an echo. They looked like cats and foxes from Pinocchio. What can you do? Get Geppetto too, fire-
Eater, call whoever you want, I don't care.

Andy rolled his eyes, was many thousands of kilometers away. as always, away from all that shit. Dario stared at him and thought: You're really strong, Andy, you're really strong. Maybe I could be like that too. See everything that happens as if it were a movie, like something happening in front of you and you smiling from the distance from the chair.

So, Andy, how do you like the movie?

Don't know, it's only just started. So I, I've already seen him. thousand times.

Oh really, and how does it turn out?

Definitely without a happy ending. You know where they take me-

No, where are they sending you?

In the youth prison.

A place where they straighten out weird guys like Dario. Crazy guys? Then I'll have a look, maybe get one

me back too.

You? What nonsense? You're exactly right, not there

Oh come on, I'm weird too. Dont you see it...?

Andy leaned forward, stretching his arm a little in front of him.

"Oh my god," someone shouted. "He moved his arm." "The arm?" someone else asked.

"The arm. Just now."

Yes, well observed, he moved his arm and he can use his hands, right?

And what is that?besides like all of us!

Great, I worked a miracle like Saint Francis of Assisi. But maybe, I don't know, maybe he could before, and you just didn't get it. What do I know? I'm just the loser, the one who can't get anything done, everyone knows me like that, right?

Someone ran out of the room, other people came in, Andy was taken away.

Bye, Dario, Andy said as he drove past him, see you soon.

No, Andy, I don't think so. I hardly think that we will meet again.

The door closed again. Only Dario and the director remained in the room

The man took a deep breath, returned to his desk

"Very good," he said, crossing his hands. Dario grinned. Dear director, listen to me, save yourself the words. What should change? No matter what you say or what you do, I'll always be a loser, right? You taught me that. Honestly, I don't mean it in a bad way, but everything you say and do, my dear Herr Director,goes right past my ass.

_________________________________________

Do you think they will meet again?

Wordcount : 1104