Page 53 of Paradox
"You're the one who brought up family… Has he come home yet?"
There's a long pause. "He texted us all a few weeks back."
"And you've heard nothing since?"
"Mom and Dad reported it, but you know what cops are like. He's an adult. He made contact. There's nothing they can do."
"Sounds about right."
"What am I gonna do for a week back home without the pair of you?"
"He might be back by Christmas."
"I don't think so." I can hear the pain in Tek's whisper, but I can't form the words to tell him about Jin.
"Maybe he's happy where he is?"
"Maybe he thinks he's happy."
"What do you mean?"
"He's run away, Eden. He dropped out of college, left a note on a pack of old batteries, and disappeared. He doesn't have anything."
"Maybe he didn't think he had a choice."
"He could have come to me. I would have kept him away from Mom till she calmed down."
"Maybe he needed to be alone."
"Are we still talking about Jin?"
"Fuck, I don't know." I grab a handful of my hair, and pull on it. "I don't know anything, anymore."
"I'm just saying. Compassion is not something you've ever shown my brother."
"Maybe being out here has made me soft?"And maybe it's because we jerked off together last night.
"I think being alone has made you delirious."
I think being around your brother is driving me insane.
I jump down from the roof with a thud.
"Are you alright, man?"
"Yeah, just…" As I look through the front window, I catch Jin walking towards the bathroom. "I've got a lotta shit to do. I've gotta go, okay?"
"Fine. But take care of yourself."
"What the fuck do you think I've been doing?"
"There's the Eden I know."
"Your wit astounds me," I tell Tek as I hang up on him.
With Jin out of sight, I return the broom to the porch and gather everything I'll need to stay out as long as possible. Tossing them all into the snow by the firepit, I grab the shovel last, and as soon as I'm back down the stairs, I start digging.
He hasn’t spoken to me for three days.
