My Achilles Heel

Chapter Fourteen: The Tables Have Turned

          I watched as my parents drove away, wrapping my arms around myself in attempt to block out the chilly night air.

          I wasn’t really sure what to think of how, exactly, I felt. I wasn’t even sure how I should be feeling. But I knew I needed to go find Jason.

          After looking all around the house, unable to find him, and confirming that he hadn’t taken my car anywhere, I decided to go on a walk. Maybe, hopefully, I would run into him along the way.

          And that’s exactly what happened.

          I found Jason, sitting on the swings at the park down the street. Just staring into the dark night, at nothing in particular. Quietly, I took a seat on the swing next to him.

          We sat like that, in silence, for a while. I didn’t initiate any conversation. Honestly? I didn’t want to. Too many emotions and thoughts were running through my head. before I could do anything, I needed to pull myself together. But he knew I was there.

          “Why does this always happen to me?”

          I looked over at Jason. What did he mean by that?

          “First, my parents. Now this. Am I a magnet for stupid things like this, or something?” his voice slowly rose, getting louder and more strained as if he was holding back the tears. The scratchiness of his voice made my heart cringe.

          “Jason. This isn’t even your fault,” it was mine. “It’s not like you caused the accidents. You heard the officer’ they were drunk. And so was the driver that hit your parents.”

          Jason remained silent, as did i. what was I supposed to say?”

          “I’m sorry,” well that was something, but id didn’t come from me.

          “Why are you sorry?” I frowned. 

          “Your brother,” he sighed, rubbing at his eyes. I fell silent once again.

          “You know who the driver was, don’t you?” I questioned, referring to his break down earlier. “Was it…was it Riley?” He nodded.

          Why was he so upset?

          “I grew up with that kid, you know?” Oh. “We hardly ever spoke until Freshman year. He sort of took me under his wing and I guess you could say so did I. he was going through a really hard time, and I was there for him every step of the way.

          “His parents were getting a divorce, and after everything he was going through, he just became so depressed. He got into some pretty bad things. I was always the one there to pick him back up and clean up his mess. It was always me. Not like anyone cared, not even his parents.

          “During the summer, when my parents…when they passed away, it was really hard for me. I think it was hard for him, too. I mean, what would you do if your best friends parents just died? What would you say to them?

          “Riley distanced himself from me after that, and I can’t say I blame him. At first, I felt so hurt and alone. But then I tried to see things from his perspective. A small part of me started to understand why he had suddenly cut me off. Come to think of it, I probably cut him off too.

          “I watched from a distance as his life went on. He started getting into those really bad things again, and no one was there to help him clean up his messes. His normal, fun, troublemaker self became more trouble than fun. I am so sorry your brother got mixed up in all of that,” Jason’s voice broke as he looked up to stare into my eyes.