Beneath the Surface

Chapter 21

"So what do you remember?" Liam asks sitting across from Adam on his bed.

"It was dark out and..." Adam begins to say, but he stops to close his eyes.

"Just take your time." I say to him.

"Maybe this isn't a good idea." Adam say and gets up from the bed.

"Adam please. We're here for you." Liam says.

"It's not something I'm used to talking about. Mom knows and now look at her." Adam says looking down. The look in his eyes is full of sadness and hopelessness.

"Wait? Mom knows everything? Like everything everything?" Liam says with wide eyes.

"Yeah." Adam manages to get out.

"Why didn't you tell me what was bothering you. I'm your big brother? I could have helped you through whatever it is you went through."

"It wasn't the divorce or anything I mentioned the other day."

"I never thought it was." Liam admits.

"Really?"

"Adam come on. You seriously believe I would think you losing your friend and going through the divorce caused all of this?" Liam says and goes over to his brother and puts a comforting hand on Adam's shoulder.

"No I guess not." Adam says looking down at his feet. He seems to want to talk, but is a little hesitant.

"We're here for you Adam." I say letting Adam know he can talk to us.

"I don't want to burden you. I know I've caused a lot of pain, especially to you Liam." He says all sadly.

"It's ok Adam." Liam says comforting his brother.

"The other day at the bridge... I'm sorry."

"I know. You were hurting. I understand." Liam says and Adam makes his way back to his spot on the bed.

"We're ready when you are." I say to Adam and he gives me a reassuring nod.

"So like I said earlier, it was dark out. The night of mom and dad's argument." Adam begins to say.

"Did you hear their argument?" Liam asks.

"I wasn't really paying much attention. I just wanted the noise to stop. I used to cover my ears to block any noise I didn't like when I was a kid. I did the same when mom and dad argued." Adam takes a deep swallow and closes his eyes trying to remember that night.

"It's ok Adam. We're right here." I say and put a hand on his shoulder.

"When I heard them finally stop arguing, I peeked through my door and saw you there Liam. Dad's look on his face was scaring me so I closed the door so he wouldn't see me. I stayed in my room for a while that night. I heard you go to bed and mom was in her room crying. I remember that much. The next part is where it gets a little fuzzy." Adam says. I could tell he's fighting back tears.

"You can stop whenever you want." I say to Adam and Liam agrees.

"No. I need to get this out now or I'll never be able to." Adam says and he takes a deep breath and begins again.

"I wasn't tired that night and I wanted to go out to the barn to get out of the house. I remember hearing something out in the woods behind the house. I though an animal must have escaped so I headed towards the woods. Just so you remember I was young then and I wasn't thinking." Adam says looking at both Liam and I.

"It's ok keep going." Liam says.

"So me being the snoopy kid I once was..."

"Still are in a way." Liam interrupts smiling. Adam smiles a little and rolls his eyes.