Short Stories

I Can't Do This

I Can't Do This:

I started to cry. I started to full out sob because I couldn’t handle it. I was too overwhelmed. I felt like I was in a deep dark abyss with no chance of getting out. But he was there. When he saw me on the mattress weeping like the helpless child I was, he didn’t say anything.

            When our eyes locked I immediately buried my face in my grimy hands. He couldn’t see me like this, but it was only a matter of time. I managed to prop myself up on my elbows as he sat down at the edge. “I can’t do this.” I whispered to him. “I can’t do this anymore. I-I just can’t.”

            I sat myself up fully and laid my forehead on his bony shoulder. He hesitantly wrapped his arms around my torso—he was never really good at comforting people—and froze, not too sure what to do.

            My body shook, which caused me to clutch him in my arms tightly. My hand turning into a fist and grabbing at his shirt. He instantly tensed, though easily got his muscles to relax. We stayed like that for a long time, it felt like forever, and even if that position was eternal I wouldn’t of really minded. To me, even though given the circumstances, was perfect.

            Though of course, as boys do, they have to somehow ruin it. He gently let go of me and stood up, causing my heart to plummet and my arms to retreat at my sides.

            Without a word, he offered me his hands. I took them and he pulled me up to my feet, and without a second thought he pulled me into a hug, swept me off my feet and spun me around. My arms tightened around his shoulders when I was off the ground.

            He landed me on my feet put one of my hands on his shoulder and the other clasped with his. With that he shot me a light smile and began to sway from side to side. I mimicked his actions. He began to lean forward and my immediate thought was that he was going to kiss me, but he didn’t. In fact he leaned over and whispered in the shell of my ear:

“I can’t do this either.”