tree climber-- clifford

XIV {fourteen}

It was like no matter what way he acted, I still wanted to stay.

-b.d

AM

I woke up with my skin slightly covered with sweat and my eyelids heavy. Michael was definitely gone, too. I could hear what I assumed was him, outside the tent, doing something. I stretched out my limbs and climbed out of the large sleeping bag. I pulled on some shorts and exited the tent.

Michael was indeed doing something. He's walking around the camp spot we've claimed, moving things into the back and the bed of his truck. Everything we packed seems to be back in plastic bins except for the tent and everything inside it. "Michael, we aren't leaving today..."

"Yeah, uhm, we are." His voice is quiet and he sounds tired or sad.

"What? Why?" I can't help but sound disappointed.

"I got a call from the hospital. It's my mum." Michael's face falls even lower.

"Oh my god! Is she okay?" I rush. Michael shakes his head and let's his head fall toward the ground.

I rush over to him and wrap my arms around his torso. He struggles to hug back. he's obviously too weak at the moment, and I don't blame him.

Michael breathes heavily down onto my neck and I can't help but giggle, -which was completely inappropriate at the moment- but, it makes Michael chuckle weakly with me. That made me feel a bit better.

He finally moves his long arms around the back of my neck to hug me tightly. I kiss his lips and tell him we'll be home soon enough.

Michael just nods and sniffs, maybe trying to hide tears, but I would never call him out on anything that makes him fragile. especially when it's his mom.

So, with that, I hide back the tears myself, and continue packing up. Honestly, I'm worried sick. I know that Karen is most likely having problems that were from the miscarriage, or something like that, but I just hope she's alright. If this is making me sick, I don't want to know how Michael feels. I help Michael clear out the tent, and then we both pack up the tent and he throws the bag into the back of the truck. I hug Michael once again, as he stands, looking around our spot.

"I'm so sorry, Autumn May." Michael whispers. I look at him, and attach my front to his back. I massage his tummy and his shoulders. "No no no no, I'm sorry."

"You shouldn't be. I feel so terrible, you had all this planned..." He mumbles, putting his head in his hands.

"Hey, look at me." I turn Michael around and lift his chin so that he had to look at me.

"you, have nothing to be ashamed of. Your mom's in the hospital, of course I wouldn't be mad that we had to go back home!" I explain, wrapping my arms around his neck once more.

Michael doesn't say anything, he just leads me by my hand to the truck and helps me into the middle seat. He climbs in soon after and we're off. Even though our time was cut short, I will never forget this little trip with Michael. I had the best time, this little weekend. I felt so happy, (most of the time, at least.) but, so in love. I'm still so in love. I've never been in love before. It doesn't feel that different, but it's weird. A good weird, of course. Michael's hand rests on my thigh, and I know that it's mostly for his own comfort than mine. I pat his thigh, and he gives me a sad but slight smile as he drives us down the road.

Half way home, we stop at a gas station for gas, but we both stay quiet the entire time. It's not an awkward silence, it's just an I know you're upset right now, so I won't talk to make it worse kind of quiet. Michael returns to the driver's side after he's done pumping the gas, with the same look on his face. We arrive to my house, (still no talking) and Michael parks the truck.