How I Wish

CHAPTER XIII

Chapter XIII

"When me and Corey were young, we used to visit the local village market with our mother every second Tuesday of the month. It was the only time we were ever free of the nightmare that was our father." Brandon started, refusing to meet anyone's eyes as he shared something so personal to him.

"But this time was different as we had just been told it was going to be our last visit to the village for a while as father had lost his job." I squeezed Brandon's hand when he paused, knowing this memory was hard for him to relive.

"I had been so angry when she told us, and I blamed her for the reason we were stuck in that hell hole in the first place.

"I was just so mad with her that I stupidly ran, right into the busy streets of the market. At the time I was desperate for space – a minute to think and grasp what was happening. That was my first mistake. My second had been allowing my anger to cloud my judgement, that when I had bumped into a man and woman on the street – I lost it." Swallowing, he looked down at the bed spread in obvious shame.

Pressing myself against his side, I whispered into his ear.

"You were just a youngling who was in pain, Captain. You had every right to feel out of sorts after finding out your sanctuary was being taken away. You did nothing wrong, and it is not your fault that they took you." My heart broke at the agony in his eyes as he looked up at me, and I wanted nothing more than to take it all away.

"But I-" He started, except I stopped him with a hand on his cheek, making sure he was really listening before I spoke again.

"It. Was. Not. Your. Fault." I enunciated each word unwaveringly – denying him the chance to look away. "They are sick, twisted people who took a young boy who was hurting and angry for no other reason than their pride was hurt. No normal person would ever do such a horrid thing. If it hadn't of been you, they would have just picked someone else. They were the ones that went hunting for targets. You never asked for any of it." I could feel the eyes of the others on the side of my face, but I refused to look away from my best friend, who was so clearly still hurting over what happened all those seasons ago.

We stayed silent for a few moments, each searching the other eyes – but I kept my expression open, and firm until he finally agreed with a short nod.

I knew it hadn't fixed the problem – only put a band aid over it.

But I would spend the rest of my life making sure he knew what happened wasn't his fault.

Clearing his throat, he pulled away and I dropped my hand as he looked back to the rest of the room and carried on speaking.

"The couple I insulted – they took me faster than I could blink. I think they injected me with something – but I don't remember the exact details. I do, however remember waking up as they dragged me into their house and down into their basement, where they locked me in a dark room.

"At the time, I had thought I was on my own – until this brave little girl in a pink poufy dress and pigtails approached me. She had the biggest green eyes I had ever seen, and I remember thinking she must have been an angel – were it not for the dirt that covered her from head to toe." I blushed at the way Brandon described me, even as my eyes burned at the memory of the scared little youngling who screamed for his momma as they abandoned him in the dark, cold basement with me.

Darting a glance around the room, I found horrified expressions mixed with shock, sadness and – grief which came from Corey directly. Unable to meet his eyes, I turned back to my best friend to find him already watching me – an unknown emotion shining within his eyes as he looked down at me.