Oh, Eleanor

Chapter 43: The truth unneeded

Ron's dad recovered from his injuries pretty soon. With only a huge scar on one arm that had steri-strips on it to mark the several sutures. It definitely was a cut and not a bruise from falling off an escalator. Till now, it was clear that Jamie was lying.
But neither Martha nor Ron pressed him for answers. They waited for him to get done with his recovery first.

"Ron!" Martha's voice coming from downstairs filled the room.

"Yeah, mom." He shouted back.

"Come downstairs. Billy has called."

***

And here was Ron again. He kissed her the last time he was at Billy's house. And he hasn't talked to her since.

"She came back from hospital yesterday. I thought I might need to have a chit chat with you about it but then I saw your dad has arrived and I couldn't disturb-"

"Billy, I don't want to hear you blabber. What's the matter, why you called?"

"I read something she has been writing. And it's none of your business what she wrote but one thing from that was clear that she has affection for you and I can't let that cross limits."

Ron didn't say anything. He tried to imagine what Eleanor could possibly be writing.

"What do you mean by crossing limits?"

"Listen lad, stay out. Stay away from her. She came back from hospital and she is fine. If you wanted to know. And there is nothing more you should be interested in."

Ron stared at Billy. Trying not to think of all the wrongs he could possibly hail on Billy.
"You listening to me or not?"
Ron nodded.
"I am." He added, "but I also happen to listen to all the cries and all the wails that ever  leave this house. And I also happen to see all the blood ever gushing down to the floors.
Billy's face went blank.
"And do you want that to effect your happy life? I guess, no."
"You don't know stuff kid. You don't know it." Billy snarled.
"The heck I don't." Ron shouted, "and that is what's killing me for this long. I have no idea what is happening and I certainly have no insight as to why. And it's burning me to not know it. You can try as hard as you want to keep the truth away from me but I will reach it anyway."
Billy clutched his teeth and counted in a few breaths.
"Ron, you are young and have no idea what you are seeking. You may seek the truth. But you can't handle it afterwards. You won't want it."
Ron looked Billy in the eyes, trying to make sense of what that all was about. The words echoed in his head, but all jumbled and vague.
He went away without meeting Eleanor.