Sweet Dreams, Eli

Hey Bro

Roughly 65% of siblings
in foster care are separated.

Eli

I've been staring at my Algebra II homework for over thirty minutes when Chloe groans loudly from her spot on the other end of the couch. I've been avoiding "my room" as much as possible now that it's full of stuff.

"Mr. Lewis?" I blurt. Chloe looks up surprised. Why did I say that? Why do I know that? I'm letting myself get to involved here.

"Yeah. Be glad you dodged that bullet."

Okay, damage control, I grunt in reply. Chloe sighs again, but I can't tell if it's about me of her homework.

I return my attention to the fourteen equations in front of me. My new phone dings.

I wince, just one more thing they've done for me that I don't deserve.

Alana insisted that I needed to have a phone in case I needed to reach them or they need to reach me, but it's driving me nuts that not only did they buy the phone but they are paying for unlimited data.

Unknown Sender

Hey E, how are u?

I stare at the screen for a long minute my fingers hovering over the keyboard.

Who is this?

I type, and press send. Another message pops up a second later.

Eli, I'm hurt.

Okay, how do they know my name? I glance at Chloe but she doesn't seem to have noticed.

It's your brother, Dominic.

My eyes widen. Holy Shit!

Dom? How'd you get this number?

Don't worry about it.
Are you okay?

Yeah, I'm good. Are you?

Fine. I'm free!

Yeah. Good for you.

You only got a few more
months, right?

Nine months, three
weeks.

Want to skip out early?

What are you talking
about?

Leave. You can stay with
me, like we always said, yeah?

I stare at this last message for a long time.

I should answer him.

I should say yes.

This is what I've always wanted. Dominic and I, together, free, safe.

But nothing's safe, I know that now. And there sure as hell isn't anything we can get for free. Food, cloths, apartments, it all costs money.

Besides I haven't seen Dom in seven years. I was ten and he was thirteen.

We thought we knew everything. We knew bull crap.

And then he was gone shipped off to some group home two states away.

And I was alone, so I figured it out, I learned what the world was really like and I excepted my fate.

Aging out doesn't mean freedom, it's a death sentence. Or a prison sentence, but it ain't sunshine and rainbows.

It's been five minutes since that last text came through.

I should answer.

Three dots appear. Then disappear. Fuck. Then appear again.

I'm going to assume
you're too busy packing
to write me back. My
address is 214 River Rd,
Jackson, NH, Apartment
3B. I'll see you soon.

Jackson? That's only like thirty minutes away. And he has an apartment? Fuck, I don't know what to do!

I glance up at Chloe, her brow is furrowed as she writes frantically, glancing back and forth between her textbook and her notes.

I have my answer, I have to get out of here before this place swallows me whole.

Yeah, see you soon.