Happy Ending

Friend

Time rolled by and lunchtime appeared. As usual, I went to the library for lunch. The cafeteria was too loud and crowded, and I never ate lunch anyway.

I sat down at my normal table and opened a book. I didn't read it, just opened it. I was too busy thinking.

"Linda! I was hoping to see you here!" James' voice said from behind.

I groaned. Not him. Anyone but him.

"Linda" he said, sitting adjacent to me. "Look. I know Friday ended a little....rocky-"

"Don't bother." I said. "The past is the past."

"Linda." He said. "Just hear me out. Just as you shoved me out the door I heard a ruckus from your window. It was open a crack so I...listened-"

"Enough" I interrupted. "Just go away, ok?"

He hits you, doesn't he? Beats you up." James' voice was low, quiet.

I got up. "I'm leaving." I said.

James walked around the table and grabbed my arm. I winced as he dug his nails into a bruise.

"You can't." He said. "Linda. He hits you. He beats you. He abuses you. You need to report him. Go live with a grandparent. A cousin, an aunt. Somebody. Just not him. Call somebody. You don't need to live that way. And if you don't, I wil-"

"No!" I whisper-shouted, taking my arm back. "I can't!" I muttered quieter. "I have nobody. No aunts. No grandparents. Nobody. He's the only family I've got. And I'll be damned if I live in some foster system. Look, it would probably be better for the both of us if you just left me alone."

"No" he said, quietly. "I can't."

I looked at him, straight in the eyes. There were tears.

" I can't leave you alone. You can't be alone. You need an ally. Please Linda. Look, I know you want to be alone, but, please! Let me at least stand by you!"

"I can't" I said. "Dad forbids me to have friends."

"Bullshit" James said. "You can do whatever you want. Please don't be alone anymore."

I took a deep breath. "Ok." I muttered. 'Cause having a friend may not be so bad.' I mentally added.

We talked a little while after that, until the bell rang. About simple things. Favorite food, favorite animal, post apocalyptic novels or novels on dystopian societies (the last one got to be a really heated argument). By the time the bell rang, I was feeling great.

The next few weeks were like a happy dream. We would talk in the hallways and during lunch. After school I would rush home and finish my chores, go to my room, and actually work on my homework. I would read books he had suggested for me and smile. He did ask for my number, so I had to explain that I had none. Dad never paid the phone bill.

I awaited each day with anticipation. Dad didn't even bother me that much anymore.

I was happy. I knew what it meant to be alive.

And I never wanted it to change.