The Loner

thirteen: she becomes desperate

I stand frozen in my room as the door creaks open, my heart racing when I see my mother framed in the doorway, disbelief and anger etched on her face.

"What's going on here?" she demands, her voice sharp as a knife.

I scramble for the right words, glancing nervously at Zak, who stands stiffly at the edge of the bed.

"Zelda, do you have any idea how reckless this is?" she continues, stepping forward.

"Mom, please, it's not what you think!" My voice comes out more forcefully than I intend, frustration bubbling up.

Zak looks guilty, and it tightens my chest.

"Not what I think? You've got a boy in your room late at night! What do you expect me to think?"

My heart races. "He needs a place to rest! He's hurt, Mom!" I feel the weight of my emotions pressing down on me.

Her eyes soften slightly, but her resolve doesn't waver.

"That doesn't give you the right to sneak a boy in your room, Zelda! You know how serious this is." She turns her gaze to Zak. "You need to leave her room. Now."

"I-I'm really really sorry—" he attempts to apologize, but my mother isn't having any of it. He sighs, guilt etched onto his features. "I'll go," he says quietly, casting one last look at me. His posture is stiff as he walks out, his injuries making it painful.

The door clicks shut behind him, and an emptiness settles where he has been.

"Zelda, I care about your safety. You can't just let anyone in here," my mother continues, crossing her arms, her posture unwavering. "I don't want you to get hurt, emotionally or physically."

"I can handle myself, Mom! Zak is not just anyone. He's going through something, and I want to help him!" My frustration bubbles over, my voice rising as emotions surge through me.

"Help him how? By breaking my trust? By sneaking around? You have no idea what kind of trouble he could bring into this house."

I clench my fists, fighting back tears. "You don't understand! You only see his injuries, not the person he is. He's strong and—"

"Strong?" she interrupts, her voice slicing through the air. "He's broken, Zelda. You're too young to understand the kind of pain he's hiding."

My heart pounds in my chest.

"And you're too focused on protecting me to see that he's not a danger. He's my friend!"

Her expression softens slightly at the word "friend," but concern still lingers in her eyes. "We'll talk about this later. For now, he can stay in the guest room. No more sneaking around."

As she turns to leave, I feel a lump form in my throat. "Mom, please don't treat him like a problem. He needs support, not isolation."

"I'll do what I think is best," she replies, glancing back with a mix of determination and concern. "Just think about what I've said."

With that, she leaves, and I stand there, the weight of the confrontation heavy in the air. My heart aches for Zak, but I also understand that my mother is trying to protect me in her own way.

. . .

I wake to the soft light filtering through my curtains, stretching lazily as the events of last night rush back to me. My heart sinks at the thought of Zak. I quickly freshen up and head down the hallway to the guest room where he's been staying.

I open the door, peering inside, but the room is empty. The bed is made, the air still, and my heart races as I wonder where he could be. Did he really leave? Anxiety claws at my insides.

Turning away, I pad softly toward the kitchen, hoping to find some solace. My mother sits at the table, a cup of coffee steaming beside her. The atmosphere is heavy with unspoken tension.

"Good morning, sweetie," she says, her voice bright yet cautious.

"Morning," I reply, my voice barely above a whisper as I pour myself a glass of orange juice. "Where's Zak?"

"Oh, he left early," she says, nonchalantly flipping through a magazine. "I gave him breakfast and pain meds before he went."

"What do you mean, he left?" My heart sinks further. "Where did he go?"

"Back home, I assume. He mentioned needing to take care of some things." She glances up, her expression unreadable. "I thought you'd want some time apart after last night."

My throat tightens. 

"Did he say anything else? Is he okay?"

She hesitates before answering. "He seemed fine, just... tired."

I nod, but anxiety gnaws at me. I haven't seen him since the confrontation, and it feels wrong that he's just gone without a word.

I know an apology is in due.

"I'm sorry, mom," I tell her, looking into her eyes. Her eyes exude warmth, she gives me a soft smile.

"It's okay. Please don't repeat this again," she tells me. I nod my head.

I won't.

. . .

It has been three long days since I last saw Zak. My grounding feels like a prison sentence, leaving me with nothing but my thoughts and worries. But I know it was the consequence of my own actions.

I feel anxious as I think of his wounds. Did he go to the hospital for a follow-up?

At school, I trudge through the day, heart heavy as I think of him. During lunch, I spot Penelope sitting with a group of friends. I make my way over, my heart racing.

"Hey, Penelope," I say, sliding into the seat across from her.

"Hey, Zel! What's up?" she replies, her cheerful demeanour making me feel a bit lighter.

"I was just wondering... how's Zak doing? I haven't seen him lately," I ask, trying to sound casual.

Her brow furrows, confusion crossing her face. "I'm not sure. He hasn't said anything to me. I thought he'd be back to school by now."

My stomach drops.

"He hasn't? I just... I hope he's okay."

Did she not know about his injuries? Or was she just playing dumb? I didn't know.

Penelope shrugs, clearly unaware of the weight of my concern. "Maybe he just needs some time. You know how he gets."

"Yeah, right." I try to dismiss the dread pooling in my gut.

I get up to leave and go to my usual seat. Just then, Anna slides into the seat next to me.

"Hey, Zel," she says, noticing my distracted expression. "What's wrong?"

"Just... worried about Zak. I haven't seen him, and I can't stop thinking about him. You should've seen his wounds, Anna. They were really bad," I say, my voice barely above a whisper. 

Anna reaches over and places a reassuring hand on mine. "Have you tried talking to his sister? She might know something."

"I did, but she didn't seem to know anything either," I reply, frustration creeping into my voice.

She squeezes my hand gently, her concerned eyes boring into mine.

"Let's just hope he's okay."

"Yeah," I say, forcing a small smile.

The conversation shifts again, and I try to focus on the chatter around me, but my thoughts keep wandering back to Zak.

Later that afternoon, I find myself staring at the notice board in the hallway. A brightly colored flyer catches my attention: "School Camp: Weekend Adventure in the Forest!"

My heart races in excitement as I read the details. I feel excited, I love forests!

But, I can not help but wonder...

Would Zak be there?

I am just worried about him, that's all.