Fragments Gallery
Alone
The bell rings overhead but the boy barely notices the sound. At the moment it doesn't seem important. People rush all around him; fellow students rushing to lunch; telling jokes, having fun. The boy just sits on the bench in the hallway, staring at his shoes, his feet tapping on the ground. There is time, the boy tells himself, a frown barely visible on his lips; there is no reason to hurry. Vaguely formed thoughts pass through the boy's head and he considers them briefly before they are replaced by another idea; a constant barrage of revelations. They were saddening thoughts, observations of his world. There seems to be no escape from such realizations, so why should he try?
As the boy sits his foot begins to tap faster. His frown deepens, his eyes tighten. Time slows, his perception shifts. He is alone with his thoughts. Around him the hallways clear as students head outside, heading into the bright sunshine, the light. The dark seemed friendlier. A friend walks over and sits down next to him, the boy looks up and then back down. It was Liam. Nothing makes sense anymore.
"Why are you still in here? We should head outside."
"You go ahead," the boy mumbles, "I need to think some."
"About?"
"Stuff. I don't really want to talk about it."
His friend looks at him with worried eyes, "That bad huh?"
"Yeah."
"Sometimes talking helps."
"Not this time,' the boy turned away and repeated in a lower tone, "Not this time."
"You sure you don't want to talk?"
"Yeah, but…" he paused then continued, "Thanks."
His friend gave him a worried smile and then rose to his feet.
"You let me know eh?"
"Sure."
His friend turned and walked down the hall, soon fading out of sight.
We all need that one person who offers to help, even if we can't tell them anything in return. Sometimes all it takes to help is the offer, other times all that we need is someone to be there.
It's only human.