Pages of You

Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Dear Atlas,

What do you do when you know someone needs help but feel useless because they refuse your help?

Chiron texted me and said he was going to skip school today. I called him immediately because I knew there was only one reason why he would skip. He answered, but his voice sounded muffled, and the signal wasn't great. I told him that I had a chemistry test I couldn't skip and that I would go to him during my lunchtime.

I made sure to pick up something for him to eat, too, before I went to his house. His parents weren't home because they went to work early so Chiron could stay home. He unlocked the door for me, so I went inside his house and called for him when I didn't see him in the living room. I found him lying in bed with the blankets over him in his room.

Atlas, my heart stopped at the sight of him. It was like deja vu but worse. His lips were swollen, and there was a nasty cut. There was a dark, purplish bruise on the right side of his face, and it looked like he could barely open his right eye. I vaguely remember dropping my shit and walking over to him. I touched his shoulder, and he whimpered and recoiled from me.

He recoiled from me, Atlas. I hated it. I hated his dad.

I tried to hold my tears from him, wanting to stay strong. I felt like him seeing me losing it would not be beneficial for him. At this point, I didn't even know if he knew I was there with him. So I lowered to my knees so my face was at eye level with his face. I reached to touch his hand, and he flinched. I whispered his name and his good eye opened slowly.

When he saw me, he let out a sound I could only describe as a choked sob. He opened his arms and threw himself at me. I nearly fell on my ass from the impact, but I didn't care. I held on to him tightly. He didn't say anything if I accidentally squeezed where he was sore. He only squeezed me back.

This is how our conversation went:

Me: Chiron. Tell me what happened.

Chiron: (He pulled me toward me until I leaned halfway against the bed) Lie with me, please.

So I did. I took off my shoes and climbed on the bed. Our position was similar to how it was a while ago when I saw him like this before. After a good while, he inhaled deeply.

Chiron: Mom told him she's going to leave him.

Me: (I stilled) And?

Chiron: (He took a deep breath again) And then this happened.

I didn't understand what he meant. I asked him to clarify, and he said that he took it out on him when she threatened to leave his dad. He told him that he could have done so much worse. I asked him why they hadn't called the cops yet, and he looked ashamed and scared.

Me: What if I called the cops? Anonymously?

I hadn't seen how fear looked on his face until I suggested that. He immediately sat up, begged me not to say anything, and said that he didn't want his dad to hurt his mom. That he would rather be the punching bag than let his dad endanger his mom. He said that he was scared of what would happen to me if his dad found out I was the one who called on him.

I felt so awful, Atlas. I don't know what to do. I should report this, but I promised Chiron I wouldn't call the cops on them. What should I do? I vowed that he wouldn't hurt like this again and failed him. I'm scared.