The Minor

"Do you feel like that, sometimes? A diamond?"

He actually laughed out loud that time. "A diamond? Absolutely not. I am one fat lump of coal. Charcoal. The kind that goes in the grill, right before you burn it. The kind that starts a fire that won't go out, and cooks anything that gets close enough. I am the f***ing fire."

I backed up, mentally. Those were a whole bunch of loaded words. I wasn't sure if I should approach any of it.

In that moment, Jake kicked his heel back into the oak desk. It made a loud thump. His face lit up in pain, and it took him a moment to control his facial expression.

I held my breath. Violence was what I had been prepared for. He could do more, if he really wanted to.

He kicked the desk one more time, seemingly out of frustration. "The f***ing fire," he repeated, short of breath with irritation and pain. I inched closer, praying that he wouldn't look at me.

Jake grew still again, staring out the window. I stood against the wall, waiting for him to notice my presence. He didn't.

"Jake," I said softly. "Jake, listen to me. It's over. Everything already happened. Come back to the present, okay? Focus on right now."

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Jacob Sethsday has a history that might lead you to believe that he is a bad guy. He is currently in juvie due to an unfortunate accident that he blames himself for. He is stubborn as they come & has a difficult time letting go. He knows he deserves everything that's coming to him.

Crystal is a volunteer at the facility where Jake is staying. She's volunteered so long, she has her own parking spot. She's never met a boy she couldn't help, save one.

The question is, will this boy allow her to help him, even if it means that he has to forgive himself?