Chapter 8

7 Years Old

"I want to run away," I said to Harrison as we lay side by side on the soft grass watching the clouds. In my peripheral vision I saw him sit up.

"Why?" He simply asked. I couldn't hear any emotion in his voice at all. It was hard to know what he was thinking nowadays. He was getting better at hiding it.

"You know why," I grunted, eyes flitting from cloud to cloud. I wished I could fly. It would make things so much easier.

"I know. I just want you to tell me again," I looked over at him. His face was sympathetic, orange hair falling into his line of vision.

"My family..." I sighed, looking back at the bright blue sky that seemed to tease me.

"What about them?"

"They treat me badly," I frowned as my mind flicked through old memories of the terrible times I had spent with my family.

There was the time when father had beat me nearly to death all because I had asked to stay out a little longer when we were on a picnic.

There was the time when mother screamed profanities and other obscene things at me because she had found me in her room.

There were many instances such as these and all of then ended unpleasantly. I was pretty sure that I had a right to want to run away after all the things that I had been through.

"Where would you go?" Harrison eventually asked.

"I'm not sure," I replied, clearing my throat.

"I do not think you should go," he replied, ignoring my previous comment.

"Even if I do leave, it won't be for a while yet," I smiled in assurance. He seemed to believe me.

"I am thankful to hear that."

I hummed in reply, laying back down and watching the clouds again.

"You should come with me," I said, taking a deep breath.

"Maybe," he said, seeming hesitant."But where would we go? We have no money, we're children... and surely someone will recognise you," he added, clearing his throat.

"Well, we'll cross that when we come to it. Look, just think about it, okay?"

He nodded and sighed, laying down with his head on my side. It was nice to have someone to talk to. I'd never had anyone before Harrison and I was glad that I had him now. Having a friend was better than I thought it would be and as I was not allowed out very much, the time we did spend together was always well spent.

"Do you think God exists?" Harrison asked after a while. I looked down at him. He has sent it so quiet I thought I had misheard him. I thought about my words carefully before I said anything.

"I'm not sure..." I trailed off, thinking about the question. "Why do you ask?" I added, curious as to why the boy would question something - or someone as the case would have it - as serious as the Lord.

"I've been thinking about Him a lot recently." His voice was quiet, as though he were afraid that someone would hear our conversation.

"Right?" I pressed, trying to get to the root of his thoughts.

"I've been thinking about if He exists. If he does then why would he make his people suffer?" I looked over at him, severing my watchful gaze of the clouds. He looked sad.

"What happened?" I asked, sitting up and placing his head on my lap more comfortably.

I peered down at him and studied his face properly. His eyes met mine and that's when I knew for sure that something was up.

I ran my fingers through his ever-growing hair. Over the past few months, Harrison had decided to grow out his hair. His once-short hair had now become an orange mop of curls. The look suited him.

"My mother..." Harrison choked on his words, swallowing thickly before continuing. "She's sick. Real sick."

The look of utter pain that crossed his features was heart shattering. I felt a wave of sadness roll over me as well.

We sat there for a while in silence, my hands running through his hair and the two of us watching the sky.

"I'm sorry." I said eventually, letting out a soft sigh. We were far too young to have been out through the things we've had to go through. We were supposed to be immature, not as wise as an adult. Even I knew that we were wise and mature well beyond our years.

We didn't play like the other children of our age. We didn't have as much fun as the other children. It was like we were adults already.

"It's alright, Kyra. It is not your fault." He gave a small smile, rubbing his thumb over my cheek.

"I hope she gets better."

"Me too..."

(a/n: so, new update, new information, new developments. What do you think? I'm not sure if I like this one... Anyways, please leave a comment. I'd love to hear your thoughts.)

Updated on the 29th of February, 2016.