Page 18 of Neverland

“Just two seconds, that’s all I need.”

I watched in amusement as he hurriedly climbed the ladder and disappeared inside. A light flicked on and moments later, he stuck his head out the door. “Ready.”

“All that just to turn on the light?” It was a lamp we’d been allowed to borrow from the house, extension leads running the length of the tree and across the yard.

“Look to the left,” he said with a knowing smile. I did as told and noticed a wooden tray, the same as we’d made in woodwork at school, except this was attached to ropes.

“Is this a lazy butler?” I asked, impressed by Romeo’s recent addition to the treehouse.

“Sure is. Put the hot chocolates on the tray and watch the magic happen.”

“Magic is a bit of a stretch, but I’m seriously impressed either way.”

I knew what he was doing. Romeo was the king of distraction. He’s made it his personal life’s mission to replace my shitty memories with ones to cherish. And this was just another one of those occasions.

“Just come on, and be careful.”

Wrapping my arm around the ladder allowed me to maintain a one-handed balance as I climbed each rung. When I got to the top, I wasn’t sure how I was going to pull myself up.

“Take my hand,” Romeo offered as he heaved me inside with an awkward struggle.

We’d done the treehouse up nice. It had all the modern comforts my own home lacked. None of what it contained was brand new, but Romeo was a wiz with fixing things. We wriggled onto the mattress loaded with cushions and we sat facing each other in silence. It was easy but also melancholic. Sad and reflective. The truth was, I didn’t know what my future held. And while Romeo could always heal me in many ways, I still had a battle ahead.

“Your mom is so good to me,” I whispered.

“You were born into the wrong family, Lucy.” He reached forward and gently tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “You’re too good for this world. I promise you one day, we’ll leave this place.”

“Together?”

“Always together.”

My mind became drunk with dreams of a better life with Romeo by my side. His life wasn’t easy either. While he had two loving parents who would do anything to see him succeed, he and his family were often the victims of racial attacks and prejudice. Mr. Sanchez has been unemployed for almost a year. A builder, he was unable to find work in his field, usually dismissed while he sat in the interview waiting rooms. He wasn’t a prideful man, however, taking work at the milk bar until the locals complained and threatened not to return, forcing the owner to fire him.

We both had our struggles and that’s why the chance of receiving scholarships was so important to us.

“If you could go anywhere, where would it be?”

He considered my question carefully. “I’d like to go anywhere as long as we’re near each other. I love the country. You love the stars. So somewhere where we can see them glistening.”

“I do want that. Lots and lots of stars.”

Romeo’s eyes lit up gleefully. “I know I can’t give you the country with all your stars, but I can give you this. Lay down.”

“Huh?”

“Trust me. Lay down.”

Doing as he said, I shuffled into position and watched as he lay next to me, his hand on the lamp switch.

“Are you ready?”

“I don’t know what for, but sure.”

Romeo flicked the light and the treehouse fell into darkness.

“Wait for it. Look straight up.”

I stared into a sea of nothingness, and then as my eyes adjusted, they started to take form. At least a hundred glow-in-the-dark stars lit up the treehouse ceiling. It was a magical sight that stole me from my heinous world and catapulted me through a galaxy filled with dreams and promises of a better future.

A tear slid from each eye, tickling their way down my temples.

“Thank you,” I whispered into the darkness.

His pinkie hooked over mine. “One day, Lucy, there’ll be a star with your name on it, and it will be the most beautiful.”

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