Challenge Accepted

Found What Was Missing

Change begins with a whisper. I know she didn't think I was awake to hear it, but I did, and it was the sweetest sound. It was as if her voice was created by angels. I kissed the crook of her neck as she lay there in my too big Green Day tee and too big flannel pajamas pants. I kissed along her shoulder, then back to her neck, leaving the last kiss just below her ear, and whispered:

"I love you..." I knew she was asleep, and didn't hear me... I hope.

I love her, I really do, but mum's advice on being her safety net, being her friend was all she needed now. I sat on the couch playing some Call of Duty...even when I died, shot, or distracted and was blown up by an artillery tank or grenade, I wouldn't shout and get pissed off, I just nonchalantly restarted from my last checkpoint in the game, and played it back through again. Mum and dad had actually come back a day earlier, so today, Saturday, since their reservation only got booked for one night.

"Michael, honey...are you doing okay?" I just shrugged my shoulders, paused the game, and tossed my controller to the side, pulling out my phone to see if she texted me, still nothing. "Michael...what happened?" Mum came and sat beside me, putting her arm around behind me, patting my head, playing with my hair a bit.

"Mum...I saw her..."

"Saw her? What do you mean 'saw her'?"

"Willow...I lent her a shirt when she came over for a bit on Friday, and when she felt that she was being a burden and rushed to go change, I went after her, didn't realize she was changing, and I saw her whole torso/upper-body, mum..."

"What...did you get like, an erection or something?"

"Mum!" I covered my face with my sweater paws, trying not to laugh at mum's comment.

"What?! Its an honest question, love!"

"Not for your son!"

"Haha, alright, alright, now..." she pulled my hands down from my face, proud to think she got me to smile again. "Tell me what you saw of Willow." Her face went from proud to concerned in record time. I groaned in remembering her body.

"I could see her ribs. Her pelvic bones stuck out a tad, but what scared me the most was the vast amount of scar tissue that covered her her whole upper body... I can only imagine there's more on her legs too..." I could the tears well up.

"Oh my little Michael..." She wrapped her arms around me, and I just leaned in on her shoulder and let the tears fall. They weren't tears that just cascaded my face, but enough to show that I cried for Willow, almost like she never cried for herself.

"Why don't you call her? Maybe invite her to the park or something?"

"She hasn't answered my past attempts...what makes you think she'd respond now?"

"Hope. Knowing that my son won't let 'the game' get the best of him."

I looked up at mum. She really just made the video game reference. I didn't scolded her for the reference, but instead replayed her words in my head. She was actually right. But for the remainder of the weekend should be left alone, I feel like that would over-stress her.

***

I got to music class that next Monday, she wasn't there. I was starting to worry, but I was also sure she was just trying to avoid me...I don't know why she would want to.

"Hey man." Calum came up to me and sat down beside me pulling out his guitar.

"Hey..."

"You okay?"

"Yeah...I'm alright."

"You don't sound like it. Tell Calum what's wrong sweetie." Cal pulled my head down onto his chest and I maneuvered out of it pushing him a little, his laugh was contagious, so we ended up laughing for a bit. "But seriously...what's up?"