A Red Lighter

Connor: Bring Home my Boy

I didn't know what to feel, something that happened a lot around Caleb. Here he stood at his father's funeral, swearing and cursing his name. Mom was crying as well as Olivia Newberry and even though dad will deny it till his death even he had a few tears run down his cheek. His voice cracked as he continued to read what was on his page.

"His last words to me were I'll never love you. After all these years of trying to convince myself that he would change and deep down he really did love me. After years of being tortured and raped because I thought maybe if I was good he'd see that he loves me.... B-but then he crashed my whole world in four words and then he left me to pick up the pieces. He shattered my soul and let me cut my hands all to hell trying to put it back together and after years of repeated abuse he left it barely taped together.... But no matter how much I tell myself that its wrong and I shouldn't, I, I still love him.... He left me so broken and shattered but, but he was my dad and I loved my dad"

Caleb wiped his eyes and came and sat back down with us, I sniffled and the priest that was giving the sermon was shell shocked. It was kind of hard not to be this kid, this poor, poor kid. He'd gone through so much and all he wanted was his dad to say that he loved him, something most kids don't even think about.

When we went to the cemetery, Caleb didn't place his hand on the coffin or even say goodbye. He just stared as they lowered the box into the ground and mom made me leave with her. Telling me that Caleb needed to be alone, but I didn't want to go home. Caleb sat by the side of his dad's headstone. Just staring as the people filled the hole, Mr. and Mrs. Newberry stood behind him holding hands. I didn't want to leave but mom was right.

It was late that night; me and mom were sitting on the couch watching the ten o'clock movie The Outsiders. I slowly pushed myself off the couch and answered the door Olivia looked frazzled as I invited her inside. She had her hair in a ponytail and I could instantly tell something was wrong.

"He's not here is he" she asked as mom passed her a cup of coffee

"You lost him" I all but yelled

"Connor" mom's voice left no room for warning "Olivia what happened"

"Jake and I were sitting in the living room watching TV when I asked him if he'd go check on Caleb.... When he got to Caleb's room he started yelling my name. Caleb had written a note that said sorry and the window to his room was wide open....Jake is out looking for him"

Quickly I slid on my shoes, not daring to glance back as the two women in the kitchen watched me. I had a feeling I knew where Caleb would go. There was a little forestry kind of area right by the Overpass.

"I know where he is" my voice was stern as I talked "please don't follow me I promise Mrs. Newberry I'll bring him home just let me go talk to him.

"Please Connor" her voice was coloured with worry "bring my boy home"

"I will."

I really hoped that I was right; if Caleb wasn't here I actually have no idea where he would be. But as I got closer to the forest I noticed a slender figure curled into itself shoulders shaking.