My Red Thread

My Life Back Home

Chapter 11: My Life Back Home

All I wanted to do is inspire others on the show. How was I suppose to do that if I was voted off?

After the show, I decided to take a little stroll.

I put my hood up and just aimlessly walked in the nearby neighborhood. Did I have any fans? Did anyone like me? People must of liked me enough to vote for me this far. I don't know what I'm saying. I wanted to make an impact.

I went back to the house and packed my stuff. It was time for me to return home.

****************

Once I got home, I went straight for my bed for some much needed sleep. But hey, who can blame me?

Since my school was on a break, I didn't have to go back until the following week. At least this gave me time to get my paperwork from the tutor in order.

I walked over to a local park. I love the sun on my skin as walk along the path. I sat under my favorite tree, my back pressed up against the trunk. This tree has been through a lot with me. This exact tree is where I met Riley.

My mind became flooded with memories. They came crashing down like the ocean on the shore. I couldn't stop myself. The day Nathan and Joel died hit me the hardest.

Suddenly I felt a light tugging on sweater.

I looked up and I see this little girl smiling at me. She bounced up and down as she laughed something. She was probably around five or six.

"I know who you are," the little girl said. "You're Alex, and you were on tv. I would watch you sing. You were really good."

"Well thank you. That means a lot, especially coming from you." I said.

The little girl giggled. The mother of the girl came up to us and said, "I'm sorry but she just had to meet you. She simply adores you."

"Thank you, that honestly means a lot."

"You're welcome. Say 'bye' to Alex."

"Bye bye Alex!"

"Bye!" I called out at the mother and daughter. The little girl waved as she said her goodbyes.

I got up and started heading back to my house when something caught my eye.

"Hey look it's Logan!"

"Don't you mean L-l-l-ogan?"

"Leave me alone!"

"Can't you talk normally for once? You sound retarded."

"It's not my fault I stutter."

"You're such a freak. Let me record how you sound!"

The group of older kids pulled out a phone a started filming the other boy. The boy was trying so hard to put on a brave face.

I couldn't take it anymore.

I walked over the group of boys, "What are you think you're doing to this kid?"

"Woah it's Alex from TV! We're huge fans bruh!" Troll number one said.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm Alex from American Idol. That's not important right now," I said. "I'm gonna need you all to put your phones away."

The three trolls tucked their phones away. I said to them, "Why are you picking on this kid right here?"

Troll number two said, "He talks funny. Like not normally. He sounds stupid."

"He has a stutter," I told him. "If you all were any smart, you would know that it's a common speech impairment. And if you watched the show, you know that Riley, my best friend, has a stutter too. Now tell me; is Riley stupid? Does she sound 'retarded' to you?"

The three trolls looked at each other. Troll number three said, "Well..."

I started to grid my teeth, "Answer the question: does Riley sound retarded to you?"

The three started shaking their heads. I stepped a little closer to them, "If I ever catch you picking on this kid, or any other kid for that matter, I will find you, and I will get you. Do I make myself clear?"

They nodded. "Good, now get lost." The three trolls went back to their bridges.

I turned back to the the younger guy, "Are you okay? Logan is it?"

"I'm okay, and yes it's Logan."

"If those guys ever pick on you again, you let me know. Okay?"

"Let me make it up to you; I want to give you some tickets for the American Idol finale for you and your family. Backstage passes too."

A smile came on Logan's face, "Thank you! I loved you on Idol! I love what you stand for: you don't judge others, you stand by your friends and your promises. You saved me."

"I saved you?" I asked.

"Yeah." Logan started. "I used to feel so worthless. People would make fun of me for my stutter. It lead me to self-harm. I would cut myself at night when my family would sleep. But when I saw you on tv and how you treated Riley, it gave me hope. I am not alone."

"I'm going to tell you something: you're strong enough to win without a war. There's so much more to life than what you were feeling. You'll look back on these days, all the pain you felt now, will be invisible. Their narrow minds can't handle how awesome you are."

I exchanged information with Logan. I hope him and his family get to see the show. The kid deserves it after all he's been through.

Another self-harm case...Logan is the second person to come forward about self-harm to me.