Leo Medina loved his neighborhood. He loved how it was more concrete than people and how the repetitive sounds of sirens overlapped the crickets chirping. It wasn't uncommon to see the unsupervised boy peddling around on his hand-me-down bicycle, spending his free time passing by the sites he'd grown accustomed to. The abandoned furniture piles were his play set, the towering fences were his obstacle course, and the old women planted on the benches were his storytellers. This place is home, Leo thought as he continued to peddle faster through the empty street. The boy found himself at the top of a hill... just one more push and then... he's flying. His hair whipped back as the wind caressed his face and a giggle escaped his lips. He didn't want to stop so he didn't.... He flew.
The distorted view slowly came into Leo's focus. It was still daylight, but he was in unfamiliar surroundings. A foggy image of a blue sky and treetops clouded his vision and the young man would have thought it was beautiful, if the pain of his bike crash hadn't spoiled his ability to appreciate the scenery. Despite his body's protests, Leo pushed himself up until he was up on his feet. The twigs he called his legs shook underneath him as he began to sway. It hurt. It hurt a lot more than anything the kids at school had done to him. Every part of his body felt bruised and his head began to swim. Leo just wanted to fly home... but it didn't seem possible.
"Are you okay?" A voice asked and he looked up to see a boy. He seemed familiar with his curly hair and glasses, Leo thought that he'd had seen him around his middle school in one of his classes.
He wanted to speak but he couldn't, so he just shook his head in response.
"Yeah you're definitely not okay. Let me help you."
Leo was astounded by the boy's offer. No one had ever noticed him before. His classmate crouched down and Leo wrapped his arm around his shoulder, essentially using him as a crutch as they began the journey up the hill.
"My...bike?" Leo asked worriedly. That bike was given to him by his brother before he left.
"I saw it by some trees at the bottom of the hill. I'll bring it to your place once I drop you off, okay?"
Leo nodded tiredly. He was so tired. Sleep sounded wonderful. Suddenly, he was jostled gently and he felt someone lightly tap his face.
"Hey, don't fall asleep. If you fall asleep then you won't be able to tell me where you live."
Leo slowly opened his eyes, blinking a few times to stay awake before he reluctantly said, " I live in Wrenrick."
The boy chuckled and Leo was scared that his classmate would laugh at him for living in such a bad neighborhood but to his surprise his rescuer exclaimed, " Hello neighbor!"
Time flew like the wheels of a bicycle and the two boys grew close as the years passed.
Leo discovered that he didn't just love his home, but also the person living just across the street...
and is neighbor loved him too...
