Saying Goodbye To Andrew

Chapter Two- Hello Stranger

August 2007- Though most of this chapter is a flashback

Orson is small, dusty, and honestly, very boring, even for creative little me. I used to complain about it to Andrew, and after a few minutes of hearing my whiney voice, he would always tell me to go outside, and watch a blade of grass grow. Now, I realize that was probably an act of annoyance and to try to get me away, but being young and naïve, I did what I was told. Mother probably looked outside our kitchen window at me thinking I was insane, but I didn't care. No matter how completely absurd I must have looked, sitting there in the overgrown field of grass we call our backyard, it was oddly peaceful. Wind blowing the field back and forth, ruffling my blonde hair, sun caressing my skin.

Watching my mother like this though, day after day, sitting there expressionless, frightening, was anything but peaceful. Excruciating to say the least. I didn't dare say a word to her, afraid she would lash out at me again. Though I did find it awfully strange that such a protective woman would do such a thing to the one she was supposedly protecting. Not that it mattered; the situation was strange in general.

I think I started running sometime around then. Not really going anywhere, but it was a release I guess. It took me away from everything else. Everything scary, bad. And this was just too much. I wouldn't call for help; she was my mother, my responsibility. Though it would be preferable the other way around I think. But I've almost forgot how that would feel anymore.

I was running in the afternoon of October 2nd, 2006 and the autumn leaves whisked by me as I sped along, the cool air brushing my cheeks. I had just turned ten. Momma had forgotten of course, but I honestly had stopped caring about anything involving her and her mistakes.

That day, I decided to run a little farther outside of our town border. I'd never really been very far except for a couple times with Andrew, when we used to chase crows with our rusty bikes. The memory of those days, those happier days kept my mind captive for I don't know how long, but it was nice. I didn't let myself think of him much anymore then. It hurt too bad, 'cause I never did know if he was still alive out there. I pushed the thought aside and continued to run.

I didn't take me long to realize where I was then, or...where I was not. This wheat field was unfamiliar to me. But it was pretty, my god it was breathtaking! I'd never seen so much color in such a simple location, but it was if a sunset had reflected over the grains, and the waves created by the wind only illuminated the effect. I walked a little farther in, hesitant, but curious. I saw a tree in the distance, an oak from what I could tell, and started my way toward it. It was almost dark, but I could've cared less.

Pressing my hand up against its chipped bark, the tree felt familiar in a sense, if that's possible, for a tree. It was warm, the feeling, and I clung to the tree like it was my lifeline, tears beginning to spill from my eyes. Was this what I had been holding up for so long? Was it anger? Pain? Lonliness? The priest would probably say to pray to God, but I just wanted this tree, my tree. Yes, this is my tree, I thought. I let out a faint smile at the thought, salty tears rolling into my mouth.

"Lisaaaa", a voice called out teasingly and my body tensed at the sound. "Lisa, sweetie, don't be scared. I'm here. It's okay. You're okay"

I knew this voice, all too well, but I wouldn't let myself say it. He's gone, I convinced myself, He's gone, he's gone, he left me here, he's not here. Why would he come back to me? But as I felt strong, yearning arms wrap around me, I denied my thoughts and turned to press myself to his body.

"Andrew!" I barely made out in-between sobs. "Andrew! Andrew! Andrew!"

"Shhhhh" he carefully calmed me.

We stood there for a while, embracing each other as the sun fell below the horizon. He broke the silence though eventually, he was never one for silence. "Sis," he began with a melancholy tone in his voice. "I can't come home."

I stared at him for a moment with shocked eyes before stuttering out my sentences, not sure what I was exactly even saying. "W-why? I-Is it b-because of Momma? No sh-she'll be happy for you to be h-home! I-It's okay!"

I pleaded with him for a while before he closed his eyes and released me from my desperate grip on his jacket. "I can't come home, Lisa." He repeated. "You'll see soon enough why..." He trailed off and began to walk from me. My knees wanted to collapse. I had him here! My brother! And now he's gone...

When I could just barely make out his dark silhouette, he turned to my direction. "Oh, and Happy Birthday, Lisa." Even as a runaway he remembered...

He completely disappeared into the darkness by now, and with the moon high overhead, I slowly made my way home. For a split second, I pondered chasing after Andrew's footsteps, getting away from here. If he could make it, why couldn't I? But as I came to my senses, I quickly rethought it. Who knows what my mother would do then?

It was pitch black when I arrived home. I screamed as I took in the body laying in front of my feet, and a hysteric mother pounding her fists on the chest.