WARNING: TRIGGERING
Over the weekend, Ben and I had a lot of talks with Nathaniel about whether he wanted to move schools and, after he admitted that he did, where he wanted to go. Poor Nathaniel was very emotional about the whole thing. He told us he'd tried so hard to fit in and make friends. It made our hearts break to hear how upset he was.
"Dad, why didn't they like me?" He asked quietly. I went to sit beside him on his bed, pulling him in for a hug.
"I don't know, buddy. Sometimes people are just cruel. But hopefully it will be better for you at Pinewood." We'd finally made the decision to move him to Pinewood where I was working.
"Nathaniel, there's always going to be people who don't like you. But as long as you be yourself, you'll find people who do like you." Ben told him from his spot perched on the edge of Nathaniel's desk.
"Really?"
"Sure. Ben and I both went through a lot growing up, with people not liking us. But eventually, we made friends who we're still in touch with today."
"Do you think I'll make friends like that?" Nathaniel's voice was so quiet and vulnerable, I had to hug him tighter. I hated that my son was having to go through this.
"Of course you will. Because you're a wonderful boy, Nathaniel. One day, you'll find the right people who love you for who you are and they'll be your best friends." I promised him and Ben nodded.
"Nate, Charlie and I promise that you will make friends, no matter what we have to do to help you, okay?"
"Thanks, Ben." Nathaniel finally hugged me back.
"You feeling a bit better now?" I asked him and he nodded.
"Yeah. I think so. When will I start at Pinewood?"
"I'm going to talk to the headmistress first thing Monday morning and we'll pull you out of Oak Park too. You don't have to go back there at all."
"But I've got things in my locker."
"We'll go in another day to get them, so you don't have to see the other kids again."
"Okay." Nathaniel chewed on his bottom lip for a moment before he spoke up again. "C-can I have some time alone? Please?"
"Sure. We'll be downstairs when you want us, okay?" Ben said, seeing that I was going to argue. He stood up from his spot and took my hand. Reluctantly, I let go of Nathaniel and stood up too, following Ben out of the room. In the hallway, I let Ben pull me into a tight hug and I buried my face against his collarbone.
"I hate this, Ben." I mumbled and he nodded.
"I know. I do too." He gently kissed the top of my head. "Here, let's go and get a start on dinner. Maybe it'll distract us."
"'Kay." I hugged him tighter for a moment before letting go and following him down to the kitchen. On the way, Ben stopped in the living room where Alexis was watching TV. He reminded her to finish her homework and told her that dinner was on its way.
In the kitchen, we worked together to make a meal for our family. It was something we had grown to love; just working together in peace and enjoying the simple things.
We were almost done when we heard a dull crash from upstairs. In almost perfect sync, Ben and I looked up at the ceiling and back at each other for an instant before running up the stairs to Nathaniel's room where the sound had come from. I was just in front of Ben so when I pushed open the door, for a moment, everything seemed normal until I took a step further in and saw Nathaniel's blood-smeared arm stretched out on the floor beside his bed.
