Tiger Eye - Sam (Stardew Valley)

23

Fall 23

The fog of the morning hid the view of the Valley as Sam rode the bus over the hills. It added to his anxiety, feeling as though he was in a perpetual liminal space, what was to come remaining unknown.

He'd spent hours thinking - all night, at that, as he didn't close his eyes once. He sat in that empty, cold room forever, and as his adrenaline left his system, he was left with the splintering pain of his broken nose. All that time to think, he still wasn't sure what he'd say to Wren when he saw her next.

To his shock, Peter dropped the charges, allowing him to return home. But he wasn't excited to.

His mom was his one phone call. She remained mostly silent, and hung up before he could say goodbye.

He examined his right hand. They weren't even scabbed over yet, his knuckles split and red. He wasn't certain, but he considered the possibility that maybe he'd broken a knuckle.

He caught a glimpse of his reflection in the window. A full black eye on his left side, just the heavy bag under his right was bruised. His face pale, eyes heavy. They'd allowed him to clean up at the police station, even closing up the cut on the bridge of his nose. His sweater remained stained in his blood, though. 

He felt his chest swirling, his mind racing in circles. He knew Lewis was about to use this to his advantage, use it against him hard enough that he might with this back and forth, the game they'd been playing for nearly a decade.

Maybe it was time he lost, left it behind. Maybe he was a lost cause. He'd burnt his bridges, hurt everyone he loves. Maybe it was time for him to grow up.

The bus' breaks squealed as they arrived at the bus stop. His mother stood alone, her arms crossed, her stare blank and numb.

Sam swallowed hard. He stood slowly, stepping to the door, the cold air jolting him as it opened.

He stepped off, remaining away from her.

Silence.

The bus started again, taking off towards Zuzu city behind him. His eyes were locked on hers as he waited for her to rip into him, to push the buttons she knows will hurt the most. But she just stared.

He didn't want to speak first, because all he could do lately was make things worse. He wanted her to yell, to scold him. Because that meant she saw him, that she loved him still.

"Do you want to know how I found out this was happening?" She asked, her voice was low, raspy. He could tell in her eyes she hadn't slept.

Sam felt his eyes glass over. He tried to hold his face still by clenching his jaw, only for pain to ripple threw his face.

"I was watching the news. I had sent your brother to stay with Marnie, because he's too little. He's too little to be taking care of me. But he forgot his teddy." Jodi's voice broke.

Sam took a deep, shaky breath, letting his eyebrows contort. He knew where this was going, he knew what she was about to say. He didn't want to hear it, to confirm it.

"He practically broke the door down wailing. He saw you being put in handcuffs, Sam. He saw you covered in your own blood, being put in the back of a cop car. He will never unsee that. That is the image your brother has of you now." She spoke firmly as tears poured out of her eyes.

Sam bit down on his lip to keep it from quivering, wiping his eyes on his sleeve.

For the first time, he felt remorse.

"Where is he." He asked, his voice a mere whisper, croaky and broken.

"I'm not telling you. He is staying elsewhere until..." She took a deep breath, closing her eyes, as if she couldn't look at him while she said it, "Until you find somewhere else to say. You don't get to hurt him like this. He is too little to be taking care of us."