The Grey

And just like the rain

Lia held her mother's wrists, looking closely at the dark marks. Nydia, the middle sister, had not said anything about the subject until then, and remained in a corner of the room in thought. Yolanda, the oldest, continued making calls and was certainly the most stressed.
— I don't know what happened to him... – the mother cried.  — He's not like that...
— He was not like that until he got involved with drugs.  – Yolanda responded with some aggression.  — We should admit him to rehab.
— Let's do things calmly.  – said Lia.
— Don't start defending him, Lia.
— I'm not defending him, I just don't think it's right to do it like that. We need to talk to him too.
— Will has been out of line for too long. It may have been the first time he was aggressive but it won't be the last.
— Yolanda ... – her mother said tiredly.
— Mom... – the woman sighed, trying to remain calm.  — I work with that. What I see most in that social center are kids involved in drugs and believe me, they don't get better if they aren't taken away from that. What are we going to wait for? For him to try to stick you with a knife like his father did?
— Yolanda!  – it was Nydia who reprimanded.
—He's been through a lot. I can't blame him.  – the mother had difficulty speaking, and she sobbed as she cried.  — I understand he was trying to get out of it.
— But you can't close your eyes to that now. Cocaine? No, this is too much, it's dangerous. You can't just pat his head and pretend that everything is ok.  – Nydia continued.  — But we also can't be that aggressive and drag him to rehab.  He is also a victim. He need help.
— Admitting him would be a help.  – Yolanda grumbled and Lia looked at her angrily.
— Why are you acting like this all of a sudden?  – she questioned.
— Because it seems like I'm the only one who's taking this seriously.  – Lia laughed.
— You suddenly seem like you hate our brother. Damn, didn't you pay attention to anything mom said?
— I just don't want him to end up like his father, okay? I'm worried about mom. They live alone here, 5 hours away from us. I'm afraid to turn my back and walk away, knowing that he might suddenly freak out because his brain is full of cocaine and end up hurting our mother. It's obvious I don't hate Will, you know that, but I can't pretend he didn't hurt her. He hurt and he did it on purpose, you know that very well. Mom said he had just woken up, right? He had only had breakfast. He wasn't even high when he did that to her. What about when he is high? What is going to be?
The four were silent for some time while their mother cried.
— He's been locked in his room since yesterday morning.  - she started.  — I've already knocked on the door, I've called, I've cried, I've begged. He does not answer me. I don't hear any noise coming from inside. I’ve thought about calling the police or the fire department to break down the door but I'm afraid they'll ask me questions...
— It's better not to involve the police, at least for now.  – said Lia, with a worried expression.
— There is a boy who lives on a farm nearby. He slept here last night. They became very close. 1I thought about calling him and maybe he'd convince Will to open the door but I heard his grandparents don't like us.
— Do not like? Why?
— Apparently because we are Latinos.
— Damn.  – Lia grumbled.
— You shouldn't let Will hang out with that boy then.  – Yolanda said, but her mother shook her head.
— He is a good boy. I don't think he agrees with what his grandparents say. He wouldn't have come to sleep here if he agreed.
— I can go there and try to talk to him.  – Lia said after thinking for a while.  — Will and I have always gotten along, we've always been close. Maybe I can...
Her mother nodded.
— He likes you a lot. Very much so.  – she watched Lia get up.  — His room is the first one on the left.
— Okay. I'll be right back.  – Lia went up the stairs, still very thoughtful, stopping at the door to Will's bedroom, taking a deep breath before knocking lightly on the wood and speaking in a soft voice.  — Will? Are you awake? It's me, Lia. Can you open the door? I wanted to talk to you. I wanted to see if you’re ok.
She could have sworn it would be much more difficult but she was surprised to hear the click the lock made as it was unlocked. She waited a few seconds but the door didn't open, so she pushed it with a little trepidation, and even though it was a little dark inside the room, she could see Will lying down on the bed and covering himself from head to toe.
Lia entered, closing the door behind her.  She walked to the bed, sitting on the edge of it, stretching her legs onto the mattress.
— How are you feeling?  – no response came from under the covers.  — Isn't it very hot there?  – She heard choked sobs and his body shook as he tried to swallow the tears.  — It's okay, Will. I'm here...
Then he cried loudly, turning to get out from under the covers. He couldn't look at her, he was ashamed, but he allowed himself to hug her legs, laying his head on her lap.
Lia threaded her fingers into his curls to stroke, remaining silent to allow him to cry. He wouldn't be able to say anything, nor listen, not at that moment, because he was crying desperately.
After a few minutes Will fell silent, just sighing at irregular intervals.
— Do you feel better?  – she asked softly, but got no answer.  — They're all down there. Nydia and Yolanda...
— I'm not a bad person... – he heard Will mutter.
— I know. Mom also knows. Our sisters know this too. We're here to try to help, Will. Mom is really worried...
— I don't know why I did that... I was very nervous... I didn't want to hurt her.
— I know.
— But my mind got so messed up. It's always been messy lately. It's always making a lot of noise inside here.
— Is that why you started using those things?
— Get me out of my mind... I know it's not good. I don't use it because I think it's good... but erase everything inside head.
— And why don't you tell me what you have inside your head? You know you can tell me anything. Didn't you say that I'm the best? I will also be the best when you need help, not just when you need to do your mischief.  – she smiled, but Will remained silent for some time while she was still stroking his hair.
— I'm afraid.
— About what?
— Everything. About how things will be now. I’m afraid he’ll show up again and I won’t be able to do anything. I’m afraid of being like him.
— You're not like him, Will.
— But I hurt mom...
— You are NOT like him. I won't allow you to think like that.  – she heard Will cry once again.  — Why don't you tell me about these things mom found?  – Will shook his head.  — When did you start using this?
— I don’t want to talk about that.
— But I want to know. I want to understand, Will, so I can help you.
— I don’t want to talk...
Lia sighed.
— Ok, but can we talk about this later?  – Will didn't respond.  — Can I trust you to talk to me when you feel comfortable?
— I don't know...
— I'm not going to turn a blind eye to this, Will. Not me, not mom, not our sisters. You do not trust me? If you don't open up, we'll have to take some measures that I don't want and don't agree with.
— I need more time...
— Okay, I'm not going to force you but I want you to do something for me, and especially for mom.  – Will didn't respond.  — Why don't we throw all this away for now? Hmm?
Will sat on the bed still without looking at his sister, he rubbed his eyes, drying his face. He had predicted that. It was more than obvious. That's why, during the early hours of the morning, he had separated a good amount of everything he had and then escaped through the bedroom window, hiding the drugs along with the gun in the old tree house at the backyard, and he knew that his mother would never go up there.
— OK...
— Really?  – Lia's voice sounded excited as she stood up.  — That's a huge step, I'm so proud of you.  – Lia walked around the bed to face her brother, holding his face with her hands, finally making him look at her.  — I'm very proud of you and I'm sure mom will be too.
Will just shook his head, standing up when Lia released him. He walked slowly to the wardrobe, pulling from the top a small box with a lid, the same one that his mother had found the day before, but now it was almost empty.
The boy stopped in the middle of the bedroom, looking at the box for a few seconds. For a moment guilt weighed on his conscience, he shouldn't have hidden anything, but before he was completely lucid, he felt Lia gently take the box from his hand.
— Lia...
— Let me do this for you.  – she smiled tenderly before leaving the bedroom. Will remained standing in the same place without much reaction. He heard the toilet flush and a few seconds later Lia returned to the room with the empty box, leaving it on the bed.  — Can I ask you another favor...?  – Will looked at her, he seemed stunned.  — Mom is worried about you... – then he shook his head.  — Please...
— I can’t...
— Please.  – Lia approached her brother again, holding his hands. She looked at him for some time, only seeming at that moment to realize how much he had grown, as he was now much taller than her.  — You're so tall... When did you get this tall?  – Will finally smiled, but his brow furrowed as he tried to hold back crying.  — Come with me.  Mom won't be okay until she sees you.
Will nodded without saying anything, letting Lia lead him out of the bedroom while she held her hand tightly.
When they went down the stairs, the first person he noticed was Yolanda. Her eyes met his almost immediately and her eyebrows drew together as she seemed to hold back tears.
He saw Nydia get up from the couch, heading towards Yolanda, grabbing her arm to pull her out the front door. Yolanda didn't try to resist and all her bravery seemed to have disappeared.
The mother observed the scene a little confused, then turned to face her son, who was walking behind Lia, still holding her hand.
— My son... – the mother's voice came out like a sigh as she stood up with some difficulty, looking completely powerless.
Will didn't come closer until he was pulled by Lia, being hugged by his mother when he was closer to her. It took him a while to hug her back and he felt like his legs were going to give out at any moment.
— I'm so sorry... – Will said softly, feeling his voice crack as he started to cry. He felt his mother tremble in his embrace and few things had hurt like that before.  — I'm really sorry...
She tightened the hug.
— I'm so relieved that you're okay... don't do this to me anymore, my son, I beg you.  – She moved away a little, holding her son's face.
— I didn't want to hurt you... – the mother felt his arms and chest, seeming to look for something out of the ordinary.
— I'm so relieved...
Will saw Lia put her hand on her mother's shoulder and say softly.
— We threw everything away.  – the woman nodded, looking relieved.  — You both should talk. I'll wait outside with the girls.
— No!  – Will grabbed Lia's arm when she started to walk away.  — Please... Lia, I told you I needed more time... I don't want to talk...
— Will...
— It’s okay. – the mother said, sighing.  — It's okay, we don't need to talk about it now. When you feel calm, okay? What’s matters for me is that you are okay.
Lia also sighed.
— I'll call Yolanda and Nydia. I think we're all hungry, aren't we?