The stranger

Cohabitation

After a week, she resigned herself to return to the trailer, feeling like she would miss being with John and maintain his property. In that week, she learned so many new things and she felt like she was being helpful. She got to know him a little, but it was not uncommon for him to disappear out of the blue, so not as much as she'd like.

But this feeling. Fear was no longer an issue there; she finally could breathe. Since he wasn't home very often, she could hang out there, reading one of the books in the house or doing her study in peace and silence. It felt so liberating that once she was halfway toward the trailer, the anxiety came back running, her blood ran cold and she looked back thinking she should not go.

She continued walking slowly toward her brother’s trailer, her trembling and tearful state persisting with each step.

“Woof!” She exhaled the air she didn’t realize she had been holding in. Billy followed her with a wagging tail, holding the little basket in his mouth. He was drooling so much that Lauri couldn’t help but laugh. He always trailed behind her since John had instructed him to protect her. She patted his head, and he dropped the basket, covering her hand with slobber. She chuckled again.

Lauri: Ew! You’re a funny dog, Billy.

Talking to him made her feel better as they approached the trailer, but when it finally came into view, her heart sank. “I’m going to get kicked out of the library…” Her clothes and belongings from that day were ruined, scattered around the ground like garbage.She had seen it last time, but in that moment, the fact that she barely had any clothes left and the destruction of the library books hit her like a train.

She hesitated to open the door, her hand resting on the handle. Pausing in silence, she wondered if her brother had calmed down.

Suddenly, the door swung open, striking her in the face. She fell backward, her head throbbing, her nose excruciatingly painful. “Did I break my nose again?” She quickly rose to her feet, only to find her brother towering over her looking furious.

Brother: You f*cked with my drugs!

Lauri: It was an accident!

Brother: I don’t f*cking care, get the f*ck out of here! I don’t care what you do but you don’t f*ck with my stuff! I should k*ll you, BRAT!

He kicked her right in her chest, and a bark echoed in her head. When her body slammed down, a stabbing pain shot through her side, stealing her breath away. It felt like a dagger had pierced her ribs; each movement caused a fresh wave of agony to wash over her. He had been violent before, but this pain was unlike anything she had experienced before.

She struggled to stand and breathe as he continued screaming at her. Fearful of another blow, she stumbled away from him. Barely able to walk, she pushed through to get out of his sight, collapsing in an alley. “Am I going to die here?” Blood filled her mouth, and an agonizing cough wracked her body, causing her ribs to move painfully. “I should have stayed…” She fought to stay conscious, desperate to find a way out or someone to ask for help. “Where’s Billy?” Tears streamed down her cheeks.

He was so high and angry, he couldn’t care less about her, she knew it. It was sad to think that he used to love her when they were younger. She tried not to cry since every movement was painful. An ice-cold thought pounded in her head: “No one ever comes this way…”

Lauri: What the f*ck am I supposed to do? Please, someone help…

The pain persisted and intensified, making every breath excruciatingly difficult and short. Ten minutes later, as she feared dying alone in the gutter, panic surged through Lauri's veins, a cold sweat dampening her forehead. Billy's absence only fueled her anxiety, each passing second feeling like eternity as she lay there, helpless, vulnerable and alone. Thoughts of her own mortality haunted her, a chilling realization that this could be the end creeping into her mind. She prayed silently for rescue, her heart pounding in her chest as fear gripped her tighter with each passing moment. Lauri's body, sprawled in the desolate alley, succumbed to despair as she resigned herself to her fate, closing her eyes and awaiting the embrace of death. But what was this? A bark? Billy? She opened them again to find John, rushing over her. Relief flooded through her, mingled with a sense of self-pity, yet beneath it all, she knew she was safe when she saw those calm black eyes examining her.

Lauri: John... I’m sorry... I’m so sorry…

John: Shh, it’s okay now. Drink this.

He opened a little vial and brought it to her lips. She chugged it painfully, almost spitting it out, but it took less than a minute for her to feel the pain slowly dissipating.

Lauri: Did you drug me?

John: No, I fixed you.

Ten minutes later, she coughed up blood, and then, miraculously, the pain faded away. Gingerly, she touched her face and ribs, finding no evidence of the earlier agony. With a mixture of confusion and relief, she rose to her feet.

Lauri: What just happened?

John hesitated for a moment before responding, his expression unreadable. But he couldn't leave her in the dark.

John: I'm a sin soldier. I healed you.

Lauri's eyes widened in surprise.

Lauri: A sin soldier?

John: Yes. And what I gave you is a syrup that I made with my saliva. It heals almost everything, but it takes a lot of energy to make those, so don’t come back here too often, I can’t keep healing you every day.

Lauri recoiled in disgust, but she couldn't deny her gratitude for his help and the other pile of questions that added in her mind. Right in that moment, questions were not what she was thinking about.

Lauri: Ew! It's like you spat in my mouth. Disgusting!

John rolled his eyes but seemed confused that she didn't dwell on the revelation of his identity. They walked home together, avoiding any encounters along the way. Lauri couldn't shake the guilt of needing his help again, but she resolved to be more careful in the future to avoid such situations. The thought of having to rely on his unusual methods made her feel completely useless. Yet, despite her discomfort, she couldn't deny the kindness he had shown in coming to her aid.

Lauri: I’m sorry for the trouble… Can I do something to thank you?

John: How about “thank you” and we leave it there?

Lauri: Thank you!

He nodded softly.

Lauri: Still. I’m sorry. I should not have gone there, I knew he would still be mad...

John: Why did you leave then?

Lauri: Because I don’t want to bother you.

He inhaled deeply, plopping on a kitchen chair. He lit himself a join and sign her to sit face to face with him. He stood again, fetching two glasses and poured grape juice in them. He slid the drink toward her and plopped back into his chair, chugging the liquid. He kept silent for a few minutes.

John: You remind me of myself when I was your age. You are what I lost so many years ago and I wish I could give it to you.

Lauri: What have you lost?

John: A childhood, a normal life, a chance.

They fell silent. Lauri couldn't help but feel a wave of affection toward John. While he remained a mystery, his presence was comforting. She knew that he cared for her, and the knowledge that someone valued her presence as much as he did was exhilarating. The Alvarez family welcomed her warmly, but the connection she felt with John was different, deeper somehow.

After their conversation, Lauri began living with John. He provided her with money to buy new clothes since hers were destroyed, and in return, she decided to help him around the house. It wasn't long before she discovered that he couldn't read, so she read the books in the house to him. Lauri wasn't a fast reader at first, but John was patient, and she was almost fluent halfway through the book, making her proud. They were reading "The Giver" by Lois Lowry, and both enjoyed the storyline and each other's company.

Despite his constant busyness, John seemed content in his solitude. He had an air of mystery about him, as if there were layers to his personality that remained hidden, not ever to be found out. His interactions were sparse, and even though Lauri lived with him, he would disappear for hours before returning to work on his art. She found solace in watching him do so, creating beautiful landscapes and cities that seemed to belong to another world. One particular drawing depicted a desert with a moon and a sun, surrounded by a few bullet-ridden bungalows. When she asked about it, John began to spin tales of another world, referring to the story as if it was a real place. He called it Stellaris.

Despite his reluctance to venture outside much, John always made sure to look out for Lauri's needs, even while he hid in his own activities. They shared an unspoken connection, understanding each other without needing words or physical touch, and it brought her to trust him even more.