Where To Go

Surviving Alone Together

   I am sitting alone at the bus stop. I brought my guitar so I could earn some money to get food. I set a baseball cap in front of me and played my guitar and sang. The first few people just walked over, smiled, and waited for a bit and threw some coins in. Then after an hour a boy walked over and sat next to me listening. when I finished the song I looked over at him. He smiled

   "Hello! I'm Oliver!"

   "Hi..." My cheeks felt hot

   "I'm 14! How old are you!" He smiled 

   "I'm 15...." His smile made my cheeks hotter and my stomach drop

   "Can you play another song. Oh, wait... what's your name?" Oliver sounded curious

   "My name is Grey..." 

   I began to play my guitar and sing just to see him smile. After a few hours, he left. He had to get back home. He seemed sad he had to leave but also scared to go home. I shrugged it off. This continued the next day but, he was terrified when he found out he stayed 5 minuted to long.

   "Want me to walk you home Oliver?"

   "N-no..."

   "Oh, okay...be safe" I smiled at him

   He came back the next day with a cut on his cheek and a bruise on his knee.

   "Oliver...are you okay?"

   "I'm fine Grey-Kun..."

   "You sure" I put my hand on his arm and he winced away

   "Sorry, it's nothing... I just fell..."

   "Oliver...."

   I played my guitar to calm him but when it was almost time for him to leave his eyes welled up with tears. He hugged me.

   "Don't make me go Grey-Kun..."

   "I won't it's okay..."

  I touched his arm again and he winced. I pulled up his sleeve and there was another bruise.

   "Oli, this isn't a fall... What happened."

   "Uhm...." He looked up at me worried

   "Don't worry it's gonna be okay."

   "My dad is an achoholic...he wants to hit me if I'm home late. He threw a beer bottle at me..that's why there is a cut on my cheek."

   I hugged him. "I'm not going to let you go home Oli." I picked up the baseball cap that had $50 in it. I put the cap in my luggage bag and pocketed my money. I grabbed Oli's hand and led him to the store across the street. I bought a first aid kit and some food.

   "Oli stays here I will be back."

   I quickly got my bag to put my new stuff in it and went back to the store. I led Oli with me to the back storage room and we slipped inside.

   "We aren't supposed to be in here Grey-Kun..."

   "I have nowhere else to go Oli..."

   Oliver looked at me like he understood and I led him to the back. I found a mattress and sheets in the back and set up a bed for Oliver. I hope we have a better day tomorrow.