One Moment

~ Chapter 8 ~

Sitting down at a booth, I twirled my hair. I had texted Keith to meet me here, but I hadn’t got a response yet. Lily (the café owner) walked over to me, a concerned expression on her face. “Are you okay darling,” she asked, taking the seat opposite me. I smiled up at her faintly and nodded. “Just waiting for someone,” I said, sighing.

Lily looked at me again and sensing I needed time alone, politely excused herself. When she had left, I dropped my face into my hands. Hearing a cough, I quickly looked back up. Keith was standing there, holding his phone out like an explanation.

 “Thanks for coming,” I said, hugging him awkwardly and sitting back down. “I wanted to get something off my chest that I’ve wanted to tell someone for a while.” I paused, taking a breath of air. “I have a brother.” His reaction was not what I expected. “I know?” he said, looking muddled. “I’ve seen him at your locker.” He didn’t get it. “Another brother,” I said, looking down at my lap, twiddling my fingers together. Keith gave me a questioning look, waiting for me to continue.

“He’s my twin,” I explained. “What?” Keith asked. “I thought your only brother was the guy at your locker and he definitely doesn’t look like your twin?” “He died in a car crash when we were 13,” I said, my eyes starting to well up with tears. Keith put his hand on top of mine over the table and he squeezed it, reassuringly.

“He was my best friend, my only true friend and the only one I truly loved,” I paused slightly, bracing myself for the reaction from Keith. “And I was the reason he died.” I collapsed in tears on the table and my body was shaking for ages. “No one knows the real me,” I continued. “Most people think my life is perfect. That I have tonnes of friends and that they wish they were me. I bet you if they saw the real, messed up me for a minute they would stop wishing.”

I looked back up and saw worry and disbelief etched all over Keith’s face. I could tell he wanted to comfort me, but didn’t know how to. Lily and the other waiters and waitresses stood a fair way back, Lily talking to them softly. I felt so embarrassed. How could I have broken down like that I such a public space? My now tear stained face turned red and I hid my face in my hands.

Keith grabbed my hand and lightly pulled my out of my seats. I had no idea what he was doing, but I felt grateful when I realised he was taking me out of the intimate café. I followed behind Keith to where he was taking me. He stopped at the local park. I gave him a feeble smile and sat down on one of the swings. After about 5 minutes of comfortable silence, Keith cleared his throat.

“I’m so sorry Jamie,” he said, looking at me in a new way. “I can’t believe I didn’t know this. Oh my god,” he said, raking his hand thought his already ruffled hair. I pulled his hand off and held it in mine. He blushed slightly, which made me smile. “You didn’t know,” I said. “I should have told you sooner,” I admitted. “It eats me up inside and I spend hours in my room, crying myself to sleep.” “Oh Jamie,” he said, softly. “I wish I had been there for you when you needed it most.”