Page 15 (1/2)

Dedication:

To anyone who has ever loved unconditionally

To all the people who have loved someone that did not deserve it

And finally, to every person who has followed their heart down the path less travelled

This is for you

Twenty years ago…

I can hear theain

My neighbors are fighting The little boy screams for him to stop

I kneel down byto myself

I don’t like it

Then, nothing

I listen hard, then uncover my ears

Turning around, I stand a little, peek over the edge of the , and see hi fast by the side of ht

He’s hurt

My heart races

I could get in a lot of trouble Daddy would be real mad

Kneeling down out of sight for a moment, I stand quickly and creep to the doorframe

I listen Hard

The TV plays and I hear him snore

Hope ignites

Tiptoeing down the stairs, I sneak into the kitchen Getting a chair fro table, I stand on it and reach for the top shelf

I get what I need, slide the chair back in, and make my way to the back door

My hand reaches for the knob, grips it tight, then…I still

I could get in a lot of trouble for this

My heart beats out of my chest

Turning the knob, it squeaks a little, and fear washes over , I turn it so slowly that it takes forever to make the rotation

Finally, I feel the latch click over, and I pull the door open Taking off my slippers, I put them in between the door and frame so the door can’t close

Barefoot and dressed only in h the backyard, the soft grass cold underand soft crying

Finding him at the back of the property line under a tree, I see him cover his face with his hands His body shakes

Even hidden away in the dark, he doesn’t want anyone to see his tears

He’s trying to be strong

My heart hurts

Sloalking closer, I step on a twig It breaks, and his face snaps up to look at me

Ju up like a jack in the box, he yells out, “Get away from me”

Not co any closer, I put down my supplies and whisper, “You’re hurt”

He watches ht anda joke

He scowls and says quietly, “I’m always hurt”

Even in the dark, I see the hatred in his eyes It shines bright as day

I see his cheek beco foride eyes, I tell hi”

Reaching up to his cheek, he touches the wound with his fingertips, pulls it away, then looks at his blood He rubs it between his thu the blood, as if in apology

I stutter, “I- I can help you”

Lifting his cold eyes to me, he spits, “No one can help me”

He can’t boss me around

Placing a hand on et into a lot of trouble My daddy would be real mad And…and I came to help you” Suddenly scared for myself, I say a hushed, “Please, let me help you”

I need to get back inside before my dad finds out I’m not in bed

My face must show my fear because his posture relaxes a little, and he asks, “Why would you help me then?”

I’m not sure

I shrug “You’re hurt”

“No one else cares if I’m hurt”

My heart races

I whisper, “I do”

We stand there, staring at each other a long time

Finally, he comes closer to me and asks, “What’s your name?”

“Alexa Alexa Ballentine”

He nods, but says nothing

“What’s your name?”

He kicks at a stone “Doesn’t one”

My stomach aches I need to know his name

Stepping closer, I promise, “No, I won’t”

Lifting his head, he runs a hand through his messy brown hair to keep it out of his face He watches me a second more before he utters, “Antonio Falco”

I want to say it’s nice to ht

Shuffling around from foot to foot, I ask, “How old are you?”

He leans back on the tree trunk “Eight”

He seems older to me

He asks, “How old are you?”

“Six” Pause “I’ll be seven soon,” I lie

His brow furrows “You look older”

Wow I just thought the sa about him

Not thinking, I blurt out, “Why does your daddy hurt you?”

His jaw steels and he explains, “He’s my step-dad”

Hearing a noise in the house, I turn, andback to Antonio, I whisper, “Please let me help you”

Lowering his eyes, he murmurs, “Okay”

Relief and joy swirl through my body

He steps forward into the

I s hard, trying not to be sic

k

Taking sos”

But when I dab it on his wound, he doesn’t even flinch His eyes never leave mine

Taking a band-aid, I open it and place it on the top of his cheekbone It doesn’t doBut he still mutters, “Thanks”

Another noise in the house ently, “I need to go I’ll see you another time, Antonio”

He looks down at the ground “No You won’t”

And I didn’t

Not ever again

Sydney, Australia 2014

The knocking on the door won’t quit

Burying hter around h dreamily

Knock knock knock…

“Alexa, get your arse up! Did you forget what today is?” That sounds like Drew