Page 81 of Risking it All

His phone pinged and adrenaline coursed through my system as I spotted Isaiah’s name. As Dad read the text to himself, I practically popped out of my skin. “Well? Is Lev okay?”

“I don’t know about okay,” he said as he finished reading, “but Isaiah and Rachel are on their way here with him. They were granted emergency foster placement of Lev.”

***

Best part of having a mom who was a therapist—she sometimes had great advice. Like when she said to all of us, “Sometimes there aren’t right words. Sometimes being there is enough. You don’t need to force anything to make Lev feel better. He’s not okay, it’s okay for him to feel that way, and it’s okay for you to not feel like you have to fix it or make him better. Because you can’t fix it, and you can’t make it better. What you can do is let him know that he’s loved and isn’t alone.”

So, we all stood in the kitchen, waiting for Lev, and when he walked in, Melanie raced across the room and tackled him in a hug. He hugged her back. Their embrace made my heart sad and happy. At the start of summer, they were strangers. Gradually, they’d become best friends.

When Melanie pulled back, she gasped at the bruises and swelling along his face. Relic saved her from having to say anything as he walked up to Lev. “How are you doing, brother?”

Relic offered him his hand and Lev took it. Relic pulled Lev in for a brief pat hug and whispered something in his ear. Lev gave a small laugh, and then Demarius went in for his hug. I was last, and I hugged Lev so tightly, as if I could squeeze out all his pain.

“So, you’ve met my aunt and uncle,” I said as I pulled back.

“Guess you could say that,” Lev answered, and I hated how one of his eyes had swelled shut.

“Want some food?” I asked. “My mom made the best lasagna.”

“We’ve been watching movies,” Melanie said. “Waiting for you. Do you want to go into the basement and watch one?”

Lev turned to look at Isaiah and Rachel who hung by the door. My heart dropped at how frightening this must be for him. Sure, his dad was a massive jerk and his mother wasn’t much better, but they were his mom and dad. He knew them, loved them, and while his world was messed up, it was still his world. Now, he had been expelled from that world, sent to live with complete strangers, unsure of what was going to happen one minute to the next.

“You can do what you want,” Rachel offered. “If you’d like to stay, we can, but if you’re tired, we can head back to our house. It’s right next door.”

“I want to hang here if that’s okay,” Lev said, and then to me, “I’ll take some food.”

“I’ll get it.” Mom jumped into action. “I’ll warm it up and bring it down. You all go on to the basement.”

So, we did, together.

***

Waking me, my cell vibrated in my back pocket. I blinked to focus on the time: 11:30 at night. Camila fell asleep at 9:30. A few minutes later with her snuggled up next to him, Relic drifted off. Melanie’s Mom picked her up at 10:00. Demarius fell asleep at 10:15, then Lev went down for the count five minutes later. Evidently, I wasn’t immune to the exhaustion.

Mom:Can you come up?

I stretched then quietly went up the stairs. Mom, Dad, Isaiah, and Rachel sat at the kitchen table, and I dropped into a chair to join them. “Everyone fell asleep.”

“It’s been a long day,” Mom said. “I’m sure you’re all tired.”

“Is it okay for everyone to stay the night? Demarius and Relic are tired, and I hate the idea of them being on the road.” I also hated the idea of Relic returning home with the gang looming like a monster in the shadows.

“What about their parents?” Mom asked.

“Demarius’s parents said it was okay. They understand we wanted to support Lev tonight. I can give you their number if you want. I’ve met them. They’re really awesome people.”

“What about Relic?” Dad asked.

Groggy, I rubbed my head to kick-start my slow brain and decided to go with the truth. “Relic is responsible for himself and his sister.”

“He doesn’t have parents or legal guardians?” Rachel asked, and Isaiah shifted in his chair as if uncomfortable.

Not sure what to say, Dad saved me. “It’s complicated.”

Isaiah shared a heavy silent exchange with Dad, then Dad said, “They can stay.”

I breathed out with relief as it felt like Dad and I had finally found some steady ground. Trust. Understanding. “Thank you.”

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