Blackbird

Chapter 19

After several promises that they weren't going to kill or hurt anyone, Ilva and Arbor left the house to search for some food and a new sofa, as I'd accidentally jumped too high on the last one and broken the springs. The nearest town was about a days drive away, so they were leaving us for the night.

This was the perfect chance to get to know James a bit more.

As time passed, James had become more confident and even contributed opinions in conversations. He still seemed the most comfortable around me, but his friendship with Arbor had grown with each passing day.

However, I had sensed an aura of darkness around him, the mist of it covering up his true feelings, replacing it with a plastic smile for the world to see. I wasn't sure whether Ilva and Arbor had picked up on it, and thought that now was the perfect time to talk to him, seeing as both Ilva and Arbor were out.

James had recently taken up art, and I found him with a paintbrush behind his ear, mixing paints with his fingers. Why he didn't use the end of the paintbrush I'll never know.

"Hey James", I said casually, leaning against the doorframe. I'd become so used to living here I could almost call it home.

James jumped as if he'd seen ghost, then laughed at himself, "Sorry, I was very concentrated and you scared me."

"Ah, that's okay", I smiled. I wasn't usually this friendly with Arbor or Ilva but I felt that he needed someone to chat with.

James smiled uncertainly, probably wondering whether to keep looking at me or to finish his painting.

I sighed, and sat down next to him.
"Listen James, I'm worried about you."

"Oh?" He asked nervously.

"Yeah, I don't think you're very comfortable here. Just because you live with a bunch of freaks doesn't make you normal and happy and I think you should tell me what's wrong", I say.

He was silent for a moment before mumbling, "I miss my family."

I felt a rush of affection towards James. After all, I could relate.

"Do you have a wife?" I asked.

"Yes, and two children. A girl aged seven and a boy who-" He scrunched up his face in concentration, "-should be about six months old now, I think."

He produces a crumpled photo from his pocket. It shows a young woman holding a newborn baby and a considerably happier James holding a small girl who looks just like him. They all look so happy, stuck frozen in the moment that I smile in spite of myself.

I don't know why, but it hurt me that he couldn't quite remember his family. I was also relieved that his sadness wasn't anything worse.

"Well, that's fine. I can arrange for you to meet up with your family again." I frown, "In fact, surely you could just walk out of here, couldn't you? There's nothing holding you back."

James started nodding, then shook his head in a sudden fit of despair.

"I can't, Emilya. I hope you'll understand. At least, it's happened to you." He said at last.

"I don't understand James. What could be so important that you can't go back and visit your wife and beautiful children?" I say, hoping it will cheer him up. It doesn't.

Trembling with what looks like grief, James looks at me;
"Because Arbor is my soulmate."

"Oh", is all I can manage.