desertion

23

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A few days later, I was released. My scans came back all good and now I'm at the station. Everyone is watching over me, like helicopters.

I can't help but think negatively about all of this. Maybe I should've died. I probably would have if it wouldn't have been for that guy.

Nathaniel. I think about him everyday. He's the reason I'm here and I never got to thank him.

"Lydia. The phones ringing for you." Bobby says as he walks over to the couch. I get up and walk towards the phone. I pick it up and put it to my ear. "Hello?" I say. "Lydia." Miles says. "Miles? What's going on?" I ask. "Uh.. where are you? And where's your phone?" Miles asks. "I'm at the station.. my phones downstairs I'm pretty sure. What's going on?" I ask.

"Do y'all mind if we swing by?" Miles asks, his voice shaking. "Not at all.. I'll meet y'all at the door." I say. "Thanks, Lyds." Miles says. "No-" I start to say but he hangs up before I can even say anything.

I hang the phone back up before walking towards the steps. "Who was that?" Buck asks, his eyebrows raised. "Miles. He's on his way here with someone, I'm guessing it's Dahlia." I say. "Something's wrong, he never told me what though." I say.

"Your dad told us about you two dating.." Chimney says. "I was a bit offended I wasn't told earlier." Hen says jokingly. "Sorry.. I've just been- I don't know. Lost in my own head, maybe." I say, shaking my head.

I see Miles' car pull up and I rush down the stairs and to the car. Dahlia hops out of the backseat, tears streaming down her face. She sees me and runs into my arms, hitting my hurt stomach as she does, but I don't move her, in fact, I hold her closer.

I stand up, picking Dahlia up with me. "You shouldn't be carrying her, Lyds." Miles says as he walks over to us. "She's fine. I promise. Do you want to talk about what's going on?" I ask. "Our Dad left. He also left divorce papers on the kitchen table." Miles says. "Oh my god." I say, my jaw dropped.

"He was the only nice one." Dahlia says quietly making my heart ache. "I know." I say, rubbing her back as she cries silently into my shoulder.

"Can we go inside? The suns bright." Dahlia asks. "Yeah. We can." I say, walking into the building, Miles following me.

We head up the stairs and take a seat on the couch. "Lydia, please be careful." Dad says as he notices I'm holding Dahlia. "I am." I say.

Dahlia is zoned out, in deep thought about something. "Hey guys!" I hear someone say from behind me. I turn around and there stands Julian and Isabelle.

"I don't like her." Dahlia says quietly as she looks at Isabelle. "She's mean." Dahlia adds, looking me in the eyes. "If she's mean to you, I'll beat her up." I say. Dahlia smiles slightly before leaning back into my side.

"How's our favorite girl?" Isabelle asks, sitting beside me on the couch. "Fine." I say. "You went through a tsunami. You're not fine." Julian says. "So did thousands of other people. I'm fine." I say, rolling my eyes.

"What's up with grouchy?" Julian whispers to Miles, thinking I can't hear him. "She went through a tsunami. Like you said." Miles says, his eyebrows raised. "She doesn't have to be a bitch though." Isabelle whispers.

Dad looks at me, his eyebrows raised. I shrug my shoulders as I roll my eyes. They don't know the hell everyone in this room is going through. Miles and Dahlia's parents are divorcing. Dad is having to deal with two kids who went through hell. It's just a lot for everyone right now.

"We'll come back another day, I guess." Isabelle says before her and Julian go down the stairs. Miles scoffs before sitting beside me. "Did I tell you that they started dating?" Miles asks. "No. But I could see that coming." I say with a small laugh.

"Yeah, I think everyone saw that coming." Miles says.