The Mentally Brave

Chapter 2

"I can't believe you're going to meet him" Natalie say in a dreamy voice.

"Just for this one time, he said I owe him" I take off my top, getting ready for a quick shower before I go to see what Harry is on about.

"You owe him? More like he owes you after you saved his life"

"He might not see it like that" I point out to her "He might see it as the rest of the people round here"

I had about a few days of being the hero, when questions from the by lookers started surfacing. At first it was how did I manage to get the boy out from under the car.

Then it was how come I went for the boy who was clearly still alive. I should have gone for the little girl that was hit first. The one question they should have all asked had never been said- No one questioned how come I was the only one to run into the street to help. They all just stood there looking.

My answer was a weak one, that Harry was closer. What could I have said? That I knew she was dead already? Since I couldn't hear her thoughts screaming in pain?

The people got me questioning myself at one point and I remember bringing it up at one of my midnight talks with Natalie. Maybe they were right? Maybe I should have tried saving Harry's little sister. Maybe she wasn't dead after all? I can't hear his thoughts, so maybe it's a genetic thing. Maybe I couldn't hear hers as well.

Natalie was the one who came up with the idea to try and read his mum. But when I met Anna at the store on the corner of the street, I could hear every single thought that ran through her mind the moment she laid her eyes on me. Her thoughts jumbled up making it difficult for me to understand but one. Her gratitude. That is when I knew I didn't care what they all thought and said. The mother of the little girl didn't see me as the killer like all the others, but she saw me as the savior, the person who managed to keep at least one of her children alive. If that was enough for her, then it was enough for me too.

I was supposed to meet Harry at the cemetery. East entrance row 43 plot 3. But I already knew where that is and how to get there since I've been there before.
He is already waiting for me. He has a woolly hat on, even though today was a relatively a hot day.

"Didn't think you'll show" He wasn't looking at me but at the tombstone.
I stand by his side, though I'm not looking at the same thing he is. I already know what is written on his sister's stone, so I'm watching his profile.
The reason that I got so fascinated by this boy isn't for his good looks, however it doesn't hurt. He shifts his eyes to mine. He has no smile decorating his features tonight. He looks me up and down and only then starts talking again "You've changed"

"That happens you know.. After three years.. So did you"

"You mean i'm not attached to a wheel chair" he gives me a half smile making his dimple pop.

"You can look at it like that if you want" I shuffle my feet not really sure why I'm here.

As long as I can remember I wanted to stand alone with the boy in front of me, and now that it finally happens I just want to run the other way.

"Are you afraid of me?" He asks mistaking my step back for fear.

"No" I collect myself to my full height, but he is still a good foot taller than me.

"You might be the only one" He takes a step closer

"Why is that?" I stand my ground to prove I cannot be frightened so easily.

"Because" His jaw is set, as if he is keeping something from me.

"Hasn't your mum taught you that 'because' is not an answer?" I fold my hands, since I can't seem to find something better to do with them.