School just got a little better, I think.
We were paired up for a weeklong history project. And guess who my partner is, Death?
Yep. Energetic and adorable Avery.
But I'm a bit nervous... because we need to work on it together, but on our own time. So that means either his house, or mine.
And unfortunately, today his parents are busy and apparently don't trust him alone ("I may have lost that privilege, but it was my friends faults," he told me, grinning.) And so we have to go to my home.
My family wasn't pleased, but I promised that we wouldn't cause problems and they begrudgingly let him stay.
They didn't even bother to be nice to him, which was surprising. My parents were always gracious hosts.
Maybe they just thought I'd "contaminated" him.
But all I did was take his wrist and lead him to the hellish room in which I was forced to live.
Avery literally took one look at the meager furnishings in my bedroom and turned to me. The look on his face was a mix of anger and... something else that looked like he was stunned. His words to me were, "Marcus... how badly do they treat you?"
Death, how do you lie to a person when they look so sad?
I couldn't.
So I told him. Told him that I hadn't had new clothes in at least two and a half years. That the only thing they provided me with was a place to sleep and access to a shower, only because they didn't want any more of my "germs" spreading to them. Showed him the bruises and scars across my back and abdomen. Cried again. Let him see how starved down I was and count my ribs that were easily seen.
Let him hold me while I cried.
"Christ, Marcus, this is child abuse... how old are you?" His voice was concerned.
I said, "Sixteen, seventeen next month."
"You can't stay here, you'll die!" All I could do was look down and say,
"I know. But I can't leave quite yet."
What was I supposed to say besides the truth?
"Why?"
"Because I have nowhere to go. Avery, I'm alone. You're literally the only person who'll treat me like I'm human." He fell silent. "Avery, don't worry. I'll figure something out, okay?"
He gave me a smile, but it was a sad one. "Okay, Marcus. But I will help you if and when you need it." I just nodded yes.
Death, Avery Thomas is seriously the only thing keeping me alive right now.
I'm going to live, for him.
