Lost in Time ~ Five Hargreeves

Chapter 11

1999:

With another stroke of the pencil, Riley finished the drawing.

It was a rainy Sunday afternoon and their father allowed Riley and the others a day off (mostly because he had other appointments).

But the children didn't care. They were happy to take time some for their hobbies. Even if it was just a few hours.

Like Luther, who was busy with his action figures.

Allison, who was holding a concert in her room as part of her world tour. Which was the best concert ever, if you aks Riley.

Klaus and Ben playing a video game together.

Five, who was sitting in his room reading his favorite book about trains.

Or Vanya, who sat outside in the garden to meditate.

Riley had been sitting on the drawing for the last hour and was finally done.

It wasn't a particularly complex drawing, but Riley was happy with it– they were a kid after all.

They sat on the floor and leaned their back against the end of the bed.

"Already done?", a voice ripped Riley out of their concentration.

Riley signed the drawing in the bottom left corner and then looked at Diego.

The boy stood in front of his mirror and did the exercises his language coach had shown him.

But it didn't work the way he wanted.

That wasn't surprising since he had been working on it for over an hour and, well, was a pretty impatient person.

Diego sighed and sat down on the carpet next to Riley.

"I give up. It will never work," said Diego.

At this point he no longer even tried to suppress his stuttering.

His sibling placed the sketchbook next to them and nodded.

"Maybe you're right," Riley agreed.

"What?"

"I said you're right. Just give up. It's not working. So why keep trying when you have better things to do?" Riley asked.

Their brother turned his upper body towards Riley and gave them a confused look.

What they said was simply out of character. Riley never told anyone to give up and always had motivational words for everyone.

And to be honest, Diego was hoping for those words. Because he finally wanted to get rid of that annoying stutter.

Until that moment, Diego also suspected that Riley didn't even know the words 'giving up'.

But exactly the opposite happened.

"You will always stutter. I mean, it doesn’t have to be bad, but… maybe it is time to accept the fact that there is nothing anyone can do about it."

Riley's words felt like a knife in Diego's chest.

It hurt that, of all people, Riley 'I know you could do it' Hargreeves said something like that to him.

"How can you say something like that. I'm trying, you know. I'm trying. And you know that. And I really thought you would understand me. That's why I asked you for help because– Oh, forget it. I– I'm going to show you, all of you, that I– why are you laughing now?"