Censure

Chapter 7: Blast to the Past

Nathan's P.O.V.

After Send Offs I went back to Mama Grace's. I don't know why, but it seemed like the place I'd be least upset. Besides, I needed my stuff before moving in by myself anyways. So right now I'm sitting on what used to be my old bed, getting lectured on love. It's like she knew I was upset the minute I walked through the door. And of course she made me tell her.

I have a blanket wrapped around me, even though it's hot as Hell outside. And Mama Grace is making me hot tea. It's a "soothing drink," I'm told. If I wanted any tea at this moment, it'd be iced at least. She's going on and on but I'm barely listening. I don't want to listen. If I'm going to deal with this, I'm going to be a man about it and deal with my problem on my own.

Yet here I am. Stuck in my old home. Well, if we're being technical-old new home. If we're still being technical, I barely ever had an original "old home." My parents both died in a plane crash when I was eight. Three people lost their lives that day. Only three. And my parents were two of them. You can't ever tell me this world is fair.

But when I found out, I ran away. I was at my grandparents. They got a phone call, and then randomly started to cry. My eight year old brain wouldn't comprehend why, unless it was fully explained to me. Time of death: 4:57 a.m. That's when my parents were checked over and officially labeled as corpses. The only thing that is positive about it is that they died together.

The plane crash landed into a random pier. The docks were clear though, so there were zero pedestrians injured. All the people that were on the plane however... In reality, there were four deaths. All to blame on the accident. I was one. It was as if I disappeared, no sign of me anywhere. I ran, and ran, and ran. Like Nathan Ferro never existed.

For a year and a half, I managed to live on the streets. Avoid people and trouble, though I was involved in crime quite often. Stealing and thievery were a part of my new lifestyle.

The Well may have taught everyone else how to survive, but I've known the entire time. I learned it myself; from experiences in the outside world. I'm honestly surprised how long I lasted before finally being caught.

I actually didn't do anything to get caught. I think one day I just got tired of being by myself, tired of being a homeless dirt bag running around the streets without any parents. I just walked up to an officer one day. He asked where my parents were and I just shook my head. Then he didn't say anything, and I didn't say anything either. He brought me here.

It's not like I didn't not do anything to deserve being caught. There were plenty of reasons to send me here. All I have to say is, I'm not going to have to work for a while when I get back. Money will not be an issue. Being sent here in my opinion was for the best. It's where I met her; and she changed me. I had no emotions before turning myself in. As if my heart were made of steel.

Ice cold. Dirty body. Empty mind. Deserted heart. I had forgotten how to feel.

She melted me. She cleaned my soul. She gave me something to think about. And she made my heart beat again.

I was the boy who lost his way; she was the girl who gave me directions.