Before I Sprouted

(9) How Do You Get Someone to Open Up to You?

This story contains a mention of a past suicide attempt. Viewer discretion is advised.

7:42 PM at The Auditorium
Ray

I went to the play alone because Rose told me he was busy. I visited his house when he returned from the hospital. My phone saved his address, so I visited him that day. It was going to be his third day absent. I don't think Rose wanted me to know what happened to him that week. He lied to me about everything.

"Hello, Rose's mom." I greeted her as I walked into the house.

"Ray! We haven't seen you in a while! You should come by more often!" Suzie aims up the stairs. "Rose is upstairs, we just got back..." She pauses.

"Got back from what?" She's acting like she was about to say something she wasn't supposed to.

"Nothing. He's been sick, but he's feeling a lot better today. I wanted him to take today off just so he can have an extra day of rest." I nod. I head upstairs and into Rose's room. He's asleep on his bed. This cold really got to him. Suzie said she wanted him to get extra rest today. I examine his arm. He's wearing a white bracelet and he has a small hole on his arm. The bracelet read, "Fukumoto, Rose. DOB: 4/4/2006 (16 years). Lakebury Hospital. Admission Date: 10/23/2022." Did he go to the hospital on Sunday? Why does he still have this on? Rose starts to toss and turn.

"Raine," He whispers in his sleep. "Aphid." Should I wake him up?

"Rose." I place my hand on his arm. He jolts up and pushes me so hard that I fall. He realizes what he's done and hides his arm.

"I thought you were someone else."

"Rose, what is a rain aphid?" His eyes widen.

"Where did you hear that name?" He looks angry. Should I ask about the poetry I stole? Should I ask about why he was at the hospital? What do I even say to him right now? I hesitate. "RAY!"

"Y-you were whispering it in your sleep." Do I mention the poetry?

"Oh, it's nothing..." He yawns and sits up on his bed. Should I ask about the hospital?

"You were at the hospital. You lied to me. I don't like when people lie." He rolls his eyes and sighs.

"Ray, why are you always so nosy? The first day you were here, you went through my closet. And now you want to know about what I did last weekend? I was sick and I went to the hospital to get treated."

"The poetry!" Do I say it? I pause. "I-I" I swallow hard. "You wrote poetry, right?" He looks baffled. "I-I. Why did you write poetry?"

"This is the problem with you, Ray. None of this is your business. You don't need to know shit about my life. Yes, I wrote poetry back in the day. Why does that matter?" I say nothing. I shouldn't bring it up right now.

"N-never mind. I'm sorry. I hope you feel better." I walk towards his doorway and leave.

***

I met Jeremiah in the music room after the play ended. A girl plops herself on a chair.

"Ugh, I'm exhausted! I hope the audience loved it, but there weren't many people in the crowd." The blonde-haired girl states. Lloyd walks down the stairs that lead to the booth. The booth is the room at the top of the auditorium that has the lighting and soundboard. He hugs a tan girl with honey-colored hair.