Page 92 of Collision
“And do you go home often?” I ask in a softer tone of voice, trying to sound understanding rather than intrusive.
“Never. I haven’t considered it my home for a long time.”
“So, you came here to start over?”
He turns to look at me with his jaw set, making me dry swallow. “You can’t escape the past,” he answers grimly after a moment. “But I had been restless for a while already. My sister wanted me to stay with her. And I did, until I couldn’t anymore. Then I left. Leila decided to come with me at the last minute.”
“She turned her whole life upside down just to stay withyou? She must love you a lot.” I give him a tender look.
“I don’t know how, but apparently she does,” he murmurs penitently.
“Why shouldn’t she?” I put a hand on his shoulder and feel all his muscles tense up. But this time, I don’t withdraw. “You’re her brother, and you’re a good person.” I pause for effect. “Sometimes.”
“I know I’m not a good person, but I’ve been this way for so long that I don’t know how to be anything else.”
“Hey, look I was just joking… Of course you’re a good person.” But he remains silent, absorbed in who knows what kind of dark thoughts. “Do your parents know you’re here?” I continue. When I see him shake his head and stare at a distant point on the horizon, my heart aches.
“They must be worried sick with their children missing, scattered who knows where.”
“They are not, I assure you,” he says resentfully.
“What happened?” I dare to ask.
In response, Thomas takes a big breath and gets to his feet.
“Your ten minutes are up.” He wipes his hands on his jeans. “Come on, I want to show you something.” He extends a hand to me and I take it gladly, squeezing slightly. Even though he refused to answer all my questions, I’m happy that he gave me the chance to discover something more about him.
“Where are you taking me now? An enchanted valley?” I hear himchuckle. He leads me up a slope until we come to a stop in front of a giant oak tree.
“There he is. That’s him,” he announces, raising one corner of his mouth.
“Who is he?” I ask, looking around bewildered.
“The tree.” He slaps his palm against the bark as if it were the shoulder of a friend.
“I’m not following you.”
“My piece of paradise.” I let my gaze wander to the top of the tree. “It’s him.”
“An oak tree?” I ask, puzzled, and he nods. “You worry me.”
“Get up,” he orders.
“Excuse me, what?”
“Climb up.” He points to the tree and I look at him incredulously.
“Are you seriously asking me to climb a tree? What’ll you have me do next, find a banana?” I retort skeptically.
“I’ll think about it. Though I could just give you my banana; I’m sure you’d appreciate it.” He gives me a suggestive grin and my eyes open wide in indignation, my face in flames.
“Thomas!” I shout, hitting him on the shoulder and making him laugh with gusto. “You’re still a crude perv.”
He shakes his head and tells me, “You can’t see it from down here—it’s hidden by foliage—but there’s a little tree house up there. You’ll like it.”
“And how am I supposed to get up there?” I cross my arms over my chest and wait for an explanation. Thomas takes me around the tree. “You see this?” It’s a rope ladder, just barely hanging from the tree. “You put your little feet on the rungs and climb up.”
I burst out laughing. Hysterically.
