Lonely Boy(by dyjonn)

Part 4 Hard reality

Sawyer's head was spinning, he had come here today to make himself realise that it was time to change his ways and stop daydreaming.  Instead he already had changed his life and his dreams were his reality.  "Look here" he said,  if your world exists in the echo of mine then how can this be so,  as an echo follows the sound and you say that you are ahead of our world."    Biro patiently explained to Sawyer that in the same way that a pebble falling into a pond causes a ripple that spreads in all directions,  so too does an echo.  "So how comes there aren't worlds in all directions of the echo's then?"  he asked.   "It doesn't work that way, and don't even ask me why not,  it's just a fact that there is the future, the present and the past.  We are not really in the future just tethered to the forward edge of you.  Think of us as the leading edge of an egg white, while you would be the yolk.   Shake it and the whole lot will shake together".   Sawyer felt as though he had a million other questions to ask but instead he felt suddenly very shy in front of this boy.  "You know lots about me and yet i know hardly anything about you, what must you think of me?"

I want us to try something"  Biro said, "if we hold hands and I lead us back along the route that I arrived by you might cross fully into my world."   Feeling very self conscious Sawyer took hold of Biro's proffered hand and allowed him to lead him towards the big bamboo on the far bank,  which for a moment appeared to shimmy, only to suddenly vanish and be replaced by a field.  "Here goes nothing"  exclaimed Biro as he theatrically released Sawyers hand.   "Wow I'm still here in your world" said Sawyer, hardly daring to believe what was happening.  In triumphant  delight they hugged each other.  This was the first time in his life he had been this physically close to another person that wasn't a relation.   He clung to his friend, suddenly feeling as though he was on the brink of something that scared him so much that he had to force himself to let go of Biro.  He felt his face heating up as he had an immediate desire to grab back hold of him.

Sawyer was about to start three yrs of college and was very aware of how important this period of his life was going to be to his future.  Now he was feeling very confused  and finding himself already conflicted by the bond he felt with this otherworldly boy.  "Lets walk" said Biro,  they struck out across the huge meadow that as far as he was concerned had never even existed before.  "You want to know about me, then ask away,"  Sawyer was full of curiosity it was true. "Where do you live,  who with,  Do you go to school or work for money?"  Biro chuckled and explained that they didn't have schools in the way that Sawyer thought of them, they would visit different people and assist them in what they did and learn in that fashion.  He told him that they didn't use money but more like a system of barter.  If they needed clothes they would go to a tailor and ask for them, in return for which they would assist the tailor when he needed it.  They only took what they needed and nobody saved as there was plenty.  They never had wars as everything already belonged to everyone, so nothing to fight over.   It sounded very idyllic although Sawyer realised the explanation he was getting was obviously a simplified one.    "I live in a farmhouse just beyond the big tree you see over there,  just me and my mum,  my dad got ill and died when i was a small child"  Biro announced.  Sawyer caught  the sadness in the other boys voice.   "And what about friends, I expect you have loads of those," he said, willing Biro to say he also had none.   "Yh I have friends, a couple of decent ones, plus a few who are more like acquantances."

They walked a little further when all at once Sawyer felt panic welling up inside him, every moment he spent with this boy was going to complicate his life more.  He had always been self sufficient and managed quite well so far.   If he actually admitted to this boy that he was getting crush on him,  if he even admitted it to himself!  The other boy would be disgusted and possibly even strike him.  He needed to escape back to the safety of what he knew and understood.  "I want to go back!  please take me back now!"  Sawyer said in a panicked voice.  "Whats wrong?" said Biro?.  Please just take me back!".  Biro silently took hold of his hand and led him back along the same route they had used to get here.   Suddenly the big bamboo and then the pond shimmered into view and Biro released his hand.   Without a backward glance a freaked out Sawyer ran full pelt across the field and didn't stop until he reached the high rd, only then looking back towards the pond, where, sure enough there was no sign of anybody.  He hurried home and threw himself through the front door, almost knocking his mum over.  "Hi love what's the big hurry, that's not like you at all".  He breezily answered his mum telling her he was fine, although inside he felt like a criminal and felt sure she would see through his lie.  He must never, never see Biro again, that much was clear to him.   He would start college as planned and he would make the effort to make friends.   Definitely meet some girls too and get this loneliness induced infatuation with another boy out of his system forever.   Already he felt calmer and determined to stick with his new resolution.