The Door to Love | ✔

Chapter 18

I chose to keep my mouth shut and we quietly sat into the car. I always screwed up while communicating. I talked crap at wrong times. On many occasions I had done this.

One such incident occured on my grandfather's funeral. I joked that when was grandmother's turn so that we could finally get rid of her hideous purple bonnet. My intentions were purely to lighten the atmosphere. But, well, everything turned out just the opposite. All I could say that people did not appreciate death jokes.

I pulled the car over to a silent, deserted park. We both got down from the car and sat on the dusty, park bench. The swings and slides of the park was rusted. The trees were dried up and I noticed some teenagers playing soccer at the farthest corner. The place was appropriate to calm Ted and the silence was perfect to leave us undisturbed by the overwhelming noises of traffic and environment.

I took a sharp breath and stretched my legs. I took a glimpse of Ted who was silent. He sat like a huge rock unaffected by any emotions. But in reality, I could feel the pain he was going through. He put on a brave façade to not display his deepest, darkest fears.

After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence, I cautiously rose my fingers towards his arm. I gently tapped and touched his arm in an attempt to comfort him. I said in a shaky voice, "It's okay to feel and show emotions, Ted. It's okay to - "

Suddenly, he pulled me into a tight hug. I was shocked by the sudden force but I soon recovered. He felt nice and warm against me. His face was buried in the crook of my neck. I patted his shoulder awkwardly and my hands froze when I felt something wet on my neck.

"I'm not crying," Ted mumbled.

"I know," I whispered and rubbed his back. I sympathized him for all the events that took place earlier. It was unbelievable that his own father couldn't recogize him thought it was a gap of five years since they last saw each other.

"I'm being pathetic. Sorry," Ted muttered I shook my head.

"Not your fault, it's okay," I assured him and I felt his grip tightened around me.

I always had the perfect, loving family. I never understood the feelings of children whose parents were divorced. I could never imagine a life of an orphan. I was so privileged to have such a wonderful family and I realized their value today. Today, I could feel for Ted and millions of other kids who were deprived of their parents affection.

We stayed silent for a while, holding each other. I comforted him by actions and not verbally. I didn't wanted to say anything and hurt him unintentionally with my words.

I ruffled his blonde hair and ran my hands over his back repeatedly. I liked to touch him.

"Are you taking advantage of me?" Ted asked and I laughed.

"No, you idiot!"

I could hear him laugh lightly. It was good to see him cheerful again. It was good to see that he realized that his father was either oblivious and dumb or a complete asshole.

I could feel Ted's face lowering to my chest from my neck. I quickly pulled away and said, "Now whose taking advantage of whom?"