One Step Closer to Gone: Amber

Chapter 8

I was at my locker putting my things away after math class. I was heading to lunch next. My stomach churned at the thought of telling Tyler's secret.

Tyler walked by with his head down and his books held tightly to his chest.

"Tyler! We need to talk. Now." I grabbed his hand and pulled him around the nearest corner.

He looked over my shoulder and peered into the open hallway, as if making sure that no one could hear us. He nodded stiffly to let me know it was okay for me to continue.

"Let me see..." I said slowly. My breath shook. A combination of fear, curiosity, anger, concern, and sorrow filled my entire being.

Tyler hesitated at first. His eyes narrowed in suspicn. Finally, he began tugging at the sleeves of his uniform. However, he must've still felt as if I couldn't be trusted because he didn't pull his sleeves up far enough for me to see.

"It's okay Ty. I'm not going to give any information. I promised! I would never break a promise." I looked up into his eyes.

He must've heard the truthfulness behind my words because he pulled up the gray sleeves completely.

As I stared at the scars on his arms, I wondered to myself, "How can he bear that much pain? How can someone's past be so hard? How can people at THIS school be such bullies to poor Tyler?"

I noticed the particularly large cut he had caused the morning before he had fainted. It was on his left arm, reaching halfway to the crease of his elbow from the ball of his wrist, deep.

That's why he had fainted. He had lost too much blood that morning. And it certainly didn't help that he didn't eat.

Tyler's anorexia and cutting problem was bad, but it was getting worse. He had been cutting for about six years. I know that eight years old is an early start, but it's understandable.

I knew that he was cutting himself and that he had an eating disorder, but Marli, Minzy, and Josh didn't. No matter how hard it was, I had made a promise to Tyler; I would not tell the others about his problems. At least, not anytime soon.