The Island Boy

Chapter 9- Rectitude

        He gently smiled, and reclined on the pillow. "I have." He took his free arm, and placed it underneath his head. "I've been through it all." He looked at the roof, "kidnapped, drowned, left out to die."

        "And it all ended, when I heard someone call out my name. It was just someone, calling out my name. I could hear her calling for me. And that's when it would end."

        "It  was such a beautiful voice. I heard it...today, to only realize it was you. It was you all along."

        He smiled. "It was you."

        I shook my head. "No. It wasn't me. It couldn't possibly be me." He shook his head. "No, it is you."

        He ran his fingers through my hair. "It has to be you." I shook my head. "I'm sorry... but it can't be me."

        I could see his watery eyes. "Your right." He unlaced his hand, and stood up. "I'll...I'll be around."

        He walked towards the door, opening it for a brief moment, and then shutting it close.

        "Don't...don't leave." I muttered. But he was already gone. I pulled my knees to my chest, remembering his eyes. "Please...."

        I could still hear the heavy rain fall against the roof, the sound of thunder and lightning striking the dirt and trees, and then finally, the sound of the front door slamming close. 

        I got up, my feet reaching the cold wooden floor. He is more broken than me. There has to be a possible explanation.

        I ran outside, slamming the door open. "Jake!"

        I looked around, but he was nowhere to be found. "Jake!" The sound of lighting made me flinch.

        The tree crashed down, in front of where I stood. I looked down, out of fright. I could hear someone muttering something. I screamed, out of fright, and then looked up from my muddy feet to only look up. "Jake."

        He smiled. "Come here." He said lending out a hand. He lifted me over the tree. "let's go back home, okay?"

        I nodded. The rain dulled down, and the Island boy looked up at the sky. "It stopped."

        He picked me up like a princess and we watched as the clouds slowly travel across the land. The sun peeked out, signaling the animals that it was okay. Different animals scurried out of their homes, looking at the shining sun.

        I felt a gentle tug on my hand. Jake chuckled. "Looks like he wants your attention." I looked down, to see a small Kangaroo holding his hand out. I chuckled at the baby, and shook his hand. "It's nice to meet you Mr. Kangaroo." I gently smiled, and the Kangaroo ran back to his mother. "Did I do something wrong?" Jake laughed. "No, animals tend to be shy time to time." The Birds squawked , and went in the direction of the camp.

        "It's nice isn't it?" He told me. "Having a family, and a home?"

        "Don't you miss those things?" I looked up at him. "I do admit, I miss my home... and the smell of mama's cooking every morning. And papa's weird way of helping everyone around him."

        I felt tears almost falling off the edge. "But, I cannot go back."

        Jake smiled, and carried me through the door of the camp. "I see. If you were able to go back... would you go?"

        "Yes." I responded. He smiled to himself. "What if you are needed somewhere else?" he asked with a slight tone of curiosity.

        "then I will go where I am needed."