Lonely Places (Boyxboy) #Wattys2016

Once I was 7 Years Old

1

I was told by my mother, "Never live that way. You'll be denied by God. You'll be shunned to hell, and I won't be there to say you."

I would just nod and make my way away from her because I knew she was wrong, and she didn't know I was one of them. She didn't know I liked the red haired, freckle freak that sat next to me in class. Or that I hated that every time I saw Kian from 5th grade, I would blush. She didn't know I liked Oliver, a blonde haired third grader who would tutor me every Sunday, and that I kissed him just last week.

******

"Tyler!" my mom called.

I bolted down the stairs and ran into the kitchen.

"What do you want from Tacobell?" she asked.

I looked around as I thought of the many choices of "delicious" Mexican cuisine. I finally chose a quesadilla and MTN Dew Baja Blast. Today was Sunday, suddenly my favorite day of the week. When she left, there was a knock on the door. It was Oliver, who I was now calling my "boyfriend". I opened the door and when he walked in, we hugged. After sitting down, he started to talk to me.

"I'm sorry Tyler, but we just can't. My momma told me that I'll go to hell If I ever dated someone of the same gender. And I don't want to go down there!" 

My eyes started to tear up, and I tried hiding it.

He spoke up, "It's alright Tyler, we can still be friends, but from now on, no hugging, kissing, nothing! I don't want to disobey my mother!"

That night, when he left. We hugged at the door. His mother saw, and when she asked him, he confessed. I never knew that that would be the last night I saw him.

******

That morning, I sat with my sister and watched the news. Halfway through the broadcast, pictures of him popped up on the TV screen.

"Last night, Nine year old Oliver Garner was brutally murder by his mother! For now, unknown reasons, but when we find out we will tell you. Now, for a memoir for a friendly, third grader from Fairview Elementary!" The news lady said.

My sister looked at me, "Wasn't that your tutor?"

I only nod, because I can't say anything.

That day, school was canceled, which was fine with me. I stayed in my room most of the day, only going downstairs because I had to eat. I felt sick the whole day, and when my mom came home, she hugged me and said, "I would never do that to you my child. I love you!"

"Thanks mom, I love you too!" I reply, and I run back upstairs, locking the door behind me.

That night, I drifted to sleep very quickly, only because I had been crying non-stop for thirty minutes. Memories of Oliver passed around in my head, and when I woke up, I thought I had saw him, but it was only a picture.

******

"Tyler, hurry down, someones here to meet you!" my mom yells. 

I rush to get dressed and freshen up a bit. When I walk downstairs, Kian, a fifth grader, is standing there. "Happy Birthday! Also, I'm your new tutor!" he exclaims, smiling.

My eyes widen up, because my ACTUAL crush was standing in the doorway. 

"Hey dude! Thanks!" I reply.

He enters and we run up to my room. For an hour, we talk, and don't even study. I can already feel a connection between, but I'm so nervous that if we do, you know, that, that I might lose him the same way I lost Oliver.