Tommy's First Friend | Z Nation

Chapter 6: It's going to be all right

"I didn't have a choice! I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"

I woke up with Tommy trashing around, screaming apologies. I hugged him close to me, but he kept pushing me away and hitting me on my back. I didn't let go. I continued to cradle his head on my neck and rub his back, whispering words of comfort.

"It's all right Tommy. I promise you, it's all right. It's all right."

He stopped hitting me and instead held on—his grip, tight and desperate as he sobbed in my chest.

I caressed his cheek that had dried flecks of blood on them and noticed the darkening bruise on his other cheek. I wanted to cry, "What happened and who did this to you?" My whispers fell on deaf ears, he was still asleep.

The second time I woke up he wasn't anywhere near me. I looked around the treehouse, stuck my head out of the entrance to look around the camp, and called out to him. I was getting worried, especially after what happened earlier. I needed answers.

I cleaned up my wound, noticing how it was healing pretty well thanks to the medicine Tommy brought. I took two bottles of water and some food, putting them inside my bag. Then, I stalked towards the clearing where we played on piles of leaves. I didn't really know where to look, but it was a start.

As I approached the place, I saw a black silhouette and heard the sound of rhythmic thumps. When I got closer, I saw Tommy hitting a crude circle shaped dent with a slingshot. I didn't want to startle him so I called his name.

He grunted and continued to hit the same mark every time with pinpoint accuracy. He was crazy good.

I sat on a pile of leaves, loving the sound it made. I snacked on jerky, feeling relaxed now that I found him. "Thanks for taking care of me, I feel so much better."

He grunted in response and fired another shot.

"Have you eaten already? I've got some jerky and water in my bag if you want."

Another grunt.

"I woke up and I didn't see you, so I came here to look for you, have you been the whole time?"

And another damn grunt. The little prick wouldn't even look at me.

"You know, I saw a couple of fish floating in the sky when I woke up and there were some squirrels just three trees away, and they were dancing around a fire, trying to make it rain."

Before he could grunt again, I grabbed his shirt and pulled him backwards. He fell next to me and I got on top of him, straddling him to make sure he wouldn't try to walk out of the conversation.

He gave me a glare and looked sideways. I touched the bruise on his face, but pulled back when he flinched. "Tommy, what happened?"

He remained silent. I placed my forehead on his, forcing his eyes to look at me as I begged him for answers. "You're hurting right now and I want to help you Tommy, but I don't know what's happening. Please, just tell me what happened. Don't push me away."

His gray eyes pinned me with a look of remorse and he gave me a strained smile. "I can't say it, Lyn I just can't."

Tears threatened to fall from my eyes and I tried to rein it in, I took a shaky breath and replied, "Why? We're a team and we're supposed to be honest with each other. Why can't you share what you're going through? Please, just let me help you carry the burden."

His hand touched my cheek as he said, "What I did, it's not something for you to carry. It's my sin and I have to learn how to live with it, so please don't cry."

I didn't understand what he was saying, but I didn't want to push it. He had a look on his face that told me that no matter how much I pushed he wouldn't say it. I nodded and laid my head on the crook of his neck. "You don't have to tell me, but let's make one thing clear. Whatever it is you saw or did—I don't care about it because all I know is that you did it to keep me safe. You saved me Tommy and I know you—you'd never do anything bad if there wasn't a good reason behind it."