b r y s e n *
trigger warning (towards the end of the chapter, Brysen talks about what happened to Dylan. It includes abuse and violence)
I look up from my computer and look around my bedroom.
incoming call from Dylan
I don't know why, but I ignore the call and go back to my computer.
"Brysen!" Mom calls up the stairs. "Dylan called you."
"I know, Mom!" I shout back. She walks into my room.
"Honey, you need to talk to him. He's going through a lot right now, and what happened was not his fault. Come on, Brysen." I push back from my desk and grab shoes.
"What time do you want me back home?" I ask.
"I don't want you to come back until he's okay, and if you have to bring him home with you to do that, then that's okay."
"I don't know how to help him, Mom."
"How far are you willing to go for Dylan, honey?"
"As far as it takes."
"What are you willing to do to make sure he's okay?"
"Anything."
"There you go."
I smile and grab my keys. When I get in the car, "Crooked Smile" by J. Cole ft. TLC is on the radio. I back my car out of the driveway and drive down to Dylan's house. When I pull in front of his house the house is lit up with lights. I open my door and walk in the open front door, putting my keys in my back pocket and walking up the stairs into Dylan's bedroom. He's crouched in the corner and doesn't look at me until I squat in front of him and lift him off the floor.
"It's not your fault," I whisper in his ear. He looks at me, eyes filled with tears.
"I love you," I whisper. "Please talk to me."
He holds onto me as if he lets go, he's just going fall over or float away. When I mentioned that the house was lit up with lights, his room isn't.
"I need you to talk to me," I whisper to him.
"Out. I need to get out of here." He whispers, tears freely falling.
"Do you want anything?"
"No. No. No."
"Okay, okay, okay...ssh...it's okay."
I lead him out of his room and down the stairs, leading him to my car. I buckle him up and shut his door. When I get in the driver's side, he looks over at me and grabs my hand, but refuses to catch my eye again. The five-to-ten minute car ride is silent as he either looks out the window or down at his lap.
"I tried to call you." He says to me once we've gotten up to my bedroom.
"I know," I whisper. "I'm sorry I didn't answer."
My mom walks into the room and looks at Dylan. "Hi honey," she says. "If you need anything, we're all here for you." Dylan nods, and she walks out of the room, shutting my door behind her. I lead him through the opening in my bedroom wall, pulling the curtain I use as a door aside and running some water in the bathtub, per his request. I walk out of the bathroom into my bedroom to give him some privacy.
"Yell if you need me, okay?" I say softly. He nods. Five minutes later, he calls out for me. I walk back into the bathroom.
"C-can I borrow some c-c-clothes?" He asks, stumbling over his words from the silent sobs he'd been crying. I nod, turning around and going to my dresser. I walk back in with a pair of (new) underwear, a long-sleeved blue shirt and a pair of black sweatpants. I hear my two sisters, Luna and Kamden, burst through the first door of my bedroom, making a loud crash. I look over at Dylan as he jumps, and begins to shake. I run quickly to the main door before they both burst in.
"Is he okay?" Luna, my older sister who's18) asks. Kamden who's 9) nods in agreement.
"Guys, ssh...you can't be storming in here, he's really sensitive to loud noises right now, okay? If I need help I'll yell for you but he doesn't need lots of people right now."
Kamden screams, obviously not getting the point, and Luna tells her to be quiet and leads her out of the hallway, sliding the door closed behind her. I go back to Dylan who's still shaking. I kneel down in front of the tub on the floor and lean on the edge. I stroke his cheek softly. He closes his eyes briefly as I lean my head against his. Our faces are close, our noses touching. I move my head and press my lips to his softly. He leans in--or tries to--closer as I move my hands to cup his face.
"Do you need anything?" I ask him as we sit down on my bed after he's gotten out of the bathtub and dressed. He shakes his head and leans back against my pillow. I pull him onto me and stroke his face as he looks up at me.
"Go to sleep," I whisper. "I'll be right here when you wake up." He leans into me more and falls asleep a few minutes later as I run my hands through his curly hair.
