NOTE: TRANSLATIONS AT END OF CHAPTER
- - - - -
Leo finally gave in and collapsed against the wall.
Festus blew steam and clicked in Morse code. (1)"- --- .-.. -.. -.-- --- ..- ... ---" he said.
"Shut up," Leo said. He was still full of emotion, but his body could no longer handle the stress. Leo often retched, though he had no food in his stomach to throw up. He cried every time he thought he'd finally run out of tears. It was the flashbacks. They were too much to handle.
Sometimes he remembered being in the workshop with his mother.
--
Mom laughs.
"No, (2)mijo, like this." She shows him how to use the wrench.
"Oh, okay, (3)Mama," He says.
They work together in silence.
"Want to take a break, mijo?" She asks.
"Si!" He says. (4)"Hasta luego, machina,"
She laughs again.
---
Leo wrapped his arms around himself, rocking back and forth. He could still hear her laugh. Still feel her working beside him.
Tears sizzled on Leo's cheeks. He'd had a home. Then he had run away. He'd had a home again. Now he had run away again. He could hardly bear it.
He felt like he was doomed to have no family forever. Well, except Festus.
The bronze dragon was one of Leo's newest friends, though also one of his closest, sadly. But it wasn't the first time Leo had only had one friend.
---
"Mijo, why don't you go play with the other boys?" She asks.
"No, Mama. Their games are boring."
"You don't like basketball? Or tag?"
He shakes his head. "I like making things and fixing things. I'm good at it. And, I get to be with you!"
She picks him up. "Si, I love spending time with you too.
"We'll have a workshop together someday, Mama. Then we can build all day, and before bedtime I can make s'mores!" He lights a single finger to show how he would melt the marshmallows.
She laughs, but it doesn't sound right. "Put that out, mijo, (5)ahora. I don't want anyone seeing."
He sticks his finger in his mouth to put out the flame.
"(6)Gracias, mijo. Now (7)ven."
They get back to work on the machine together.
---
Festus nudged Leo. Leo looked into the automaton's glowing eyes.
Choking back tears, he hugged the bronze head as best he could from the floor. "I love you, buddy."
(8)"-.-- --- ..- .-. . - .... . -... . ... - ..-. .-. .. . -. -.."
- - - - -
(1) TOLDYOUSO
(2) my son
(3) Mom
(4) see you later, machine
(5) now
(6) thank you
(7) come
(8) YOURETHEBESTFRIEND
YOU ARE READING
One Too Many Heartbreaks
FanficLeo is finally happy. He's found Calypso, the most beautiful girl he's ever met. They're the perfect pair, the two loners. All is well, and they go back to camp, reunite with the others, and Leo is finally going to live his happily ever after. That...
