Memories - PHAN

6

"We have to get out of here before the police come!" Phil said in a hushed voice. He immediately turned and jumped onto a lower branch, and I heard a small cracking noise.

"Shit, be careful!" I said loudly, my heart lurching at the movement. Phil was going to fall and break his back, and it would be my fault for making him climb this stupid tree.

He shushed me, and more carefully but very quickly clambering down a bit more.

"Go slower, you're scaring me!" I said a bit quieter. I started to stand on the lower branch after I'd tested its sturdiness. It made a creaking sound and I quickly leaped to a lower branch right behind Phil. I clutched onto higher branches, trying to even out my weight, because two grown men were a bit too heavy for an old tree.

"The police station is close to my house, they'll be here soon! We shouldn't have done this!" Phil whined.

"I'm sorry!" I said.

I gasped when he jumped off of the branch to the ground a few feet below. He caught himself clumsily with his hands on the grass in front of him, and stood up immediately.

My limbs were shaking uncontrollably from the nerves, and I made it nearly impossible to climb down safely. I trembled as I sat down on the branch, getting ready to jump. It had gotten dark fast and I couldn't see very well. I was almost definitely going to hurt myself.

"Please just hurry." He pleaded, and I stayed frozen clutching the branch beneath me.

"I can't, I'm going to fall." I said, my voice shaky. It felt like my body was frozen. There were branches right below me and I could feel this wouldn't be a successful leap.

"I'll catch you, okay? Just jump a bit farther out, I won't let you fall." He said sweetly, and I tried to make myself relax. I nodded, and scooted to the edge of the branch. I pushed myself off, squeezing my eyes shut.

I felt a sharp stick deeply scrape across the palm of my right hand. I swore, feeling a searing pain where I scratched it. My legs hit the ground, but I stumbled forward, feeling panic rise in my chest as I felt my body lose balance.

Before I could fall, strong arms wrapped under my arms, and Phil caught me like he said he would. I leaned into Phil's warmth as I steadied myself back onto my feet. I kept squeezing my eyes closed, leaning into Phil's shoulder as I felt the stinging sensation run up and down my arm.

"Are you okay? Did you hurt your hand?" Phil asked worriedly.

"No, it's fine." I lied. I knew the cut broke the skin, but I could wait until we got somewhere safe.

"Okay, let's go." He said, grabbing my good hand. He pulled me the opposite way from the gate.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"Alley." He said bluntly, leading me behind a small shed to a gate I hadn't seen before. It creaked open loudly, and we both started jogging down the dark alley away from the house.

When we got to the end of the alley, we slowed to a walk, both panting.

"I think we're okay now, the police won't suspect us if they see us, right?" Phil asked.

"Just two men walking in a dark alley at night, not suspicious at all." I muttered, and he let out a breathy laugh.

He kept holding my hand as we ventured down the street.

"Where are we going now?" I asked.

"There's a bus stop a little ways up here. I know where we can find a hotel to stay the night." He said, and we kept walking.