Refresh: Extras

No. . .

Alternate ONE TIME oneshot about if Fresh (age 12) was rescued and came home and found out. . . Well you'll have to see.

   I had been avoiding the question. Everyone had been it seems. No one mentioned him. It's like he was gone. That's not true. . . He can't be gone. He's in the hospital. Hes just in the his and they don't want to take me there just in case.

   Right. . ?

   Everyone seemed to tip toe around me. I'm traumatized. . . not stupid. They carefully planned their words and left out information. They know something I don't.

   It was Monday, six days since I came home. Six days since I was rescued. And no one has said anything about Geno.

   "Ma..." It was late. Asy was in the kitchen doing dishes. Error was in his room. He was always in his room. This could be my only chance.

   "Yes Sweetie?" She asked softly. So softly. Her voice was so tired.

   "Where's Geno..?" I dreaded the answer. Logically. . . I knew. But I didn't want to accept it.

   Ma went rigid as she looked up. Her eyes glazed over. "Oh Fresh. . ."

   I knew right then and there. Her reaction gave me everything I needed to know. "No."

   "I'm sorry," She whispered reaching out.

   I leaped up and away. "No! He's not!!!"

  "Fresh I didn't know how to tell you..." She pulled her hand back.

   "What's going on?" Asy poked his head into fhe living room.

   "HE ISN'T DEAD!" My instincts were screaming at me. Run. Hide. Leave. So I listened. I took off up the stairs and into my room.

   Ma and Asy called after me but didn't move to stop me. I locked the door. I didn't want them.

   "Geno.." I sank down against the wall with tears in my eyes. "No. No. You can't be dead." I buried my face in my knees. "Geno!"

   There was a knock at the door. "Go away!!!" I hiccuped and wiped my face.

   "It's me..." His voice was tired and soft and glitchy.

   I sniffled. Him? Really? Hes the one that came for me? I found myself getting up and crossing the room. The door unlocked with a soft click.

   He pushed the door open and closed it behind him. He locked it right back.

   I was already back in my spot on the wall. I put my face in my knees again and sniffled.

   "Are you okay..?" Error asked softly.

   "Why didn't anyone tell me he died..?" I croaked out.

   Error sighed and sat down beside me. "It happened four months ago. We're all kinds still sore about it..."

   "What about you..?" I looked up. If I remembered one thing it was that Error was basically attached to Geno's hip.

   "I tried to kill myself. . . and then Ma took me to therapy. That's where we were Wednesday." He sighed leaning his head against the wall.

   My soul skipped. Error tried to kill himself? I almost came home to... Two dead brothers? "Why..?"

   "Geno was dead. You were gone. No one left." He shrugged and sighed. "Geno wouldn't have wanted this."

   I leaned back and stretched my legs. "I guess you're right..."

   "I miss him..." Error mumbled.

   My soul pinged painfully. "Yeah. . . Me too."

   "I'm sorry you didn't get to see him again. He really wished he had been able to see you. . . I remember him saying that if he saw you in the afterlife that he was gonna kill you." Error chuckled.

   I let out a weak laugh and sighed. "I'm sorry I messed things up."

   "Don't be. You didn't do nothin." He looked over.

   "Okay..." I responded.

   Neither of us said anything for a long time. We just thought. My tears stopped after a while.

   "Hey Fresh..?" Error asked.

   "Hmm?" I looked over.

   "You're a good brother." He gave a sad smile.

   My soul felt a little lighter. "Thanks..."