A Time With You

Chapter 4: Escape and Reunion

Aiden

***

"Buddy, come on, if you don't eat then your body will get weary, and you do remember the doctor said you have to be fit if you want to continue receiving the medication." My brother tried to coax me, but I really don't have any appetite to continue eating the porridge, plus, it's not delicious at all.

Mom and dad aren't home, so it was just me and him eating this soggy and bland porridge that he made.

Of course I didn't tell him that I didn't actually eat it because I didn't like the taste, it would hurt his feelings, since he made this for about two hours trying to thoroughly follow the recipe when it can pretty much be prepared in just 40 minutes and about for average people.

He really isn't suited for cooking. Sigh.

"I really can't finish this. I already took a bite of that sandwich you gave me earlier, so pleaseee - don't force me to eat this anymore." I fluttered my eyes at him to win him over, and thankfully he did, because I'm hundred percent sure that my stomach would've exploded if I continued eating his nasty porridge.

"Fine, you go to the living room and rest. I'll wash the dishes." He said to me and I beamed at him and energetically walked out of the kitchen, and to the couch in the living room.

"Hey! Be careful!" He shouted behind me, but I just snorted at him. I think the medication is working because ever since this morning I have been feeling a bit better. My irritating cough was gone and I can now breathe fully again.

Totally opposite to what I was feeling yesterday, I felt like I was dying, but now I feel like I'm well again, or at least I think I am.

"Kent."

"Yup bud."

"I want to go out. You told me that I should go out sometimes, and now I want to go out. Like, right now." I said from the living room, and after a few seconds, I heard heavy footsteps coming to where I was.

"Sorry, but you can't. I invited you yesterday because the sun was not high. The doctor specifically told me that you can't get out when the sun is up since you're under chemo, that medication and the sun don't mix Bud. You have to understand." He uttered in a gentle voice with his face all scrunched up.

"Fine, but why are you making that face? It makes you look ugly." I said without filtering my words and directly blurted out what came to my mind.

He just looked at me for a second before smiling, then laughing hysterically like a crazy person. "Oh God... eh-emm --- I'm sorry, I was just worried." He said.

"What were you worried about? You're kind of making a fuss over everything, you should do that less because it's annoying." I told him but he just gave me a sunny smile, and sat down at the arm rest beside me.

"People get worried for the people they care about, even if it's too excessive and unnecessary. I want to keep you safe, so don't go out for now, okay?" He said and I nodded at him. He patted my head before striding to the kitchen, probably to continue cleaning the dishes.

"If I can't go outside, I guess I should just rest and take a long sleep then?" I mumbled to myself and made up my mind and walked upstairs to my room.

...

[Tweet! Tweet!]

The chirping of the birds ringed throughout the forest.

I know I promised my brother I would stay still and rest, but for some reason, I feel a bit hyper today, so I snuck out through my window, and voila!

I'm here at my favorite place that I discovered when I was a kid. I made sure to bring some jacket and my medicine in case of emergency of course.

I'm not dumb to go out when I know anytime soon my sickness may kick in. I sat silently on the swing I made, while looking at the cascading river.

The wind was touching my skin and I could only close my eyes, relishing this moment. Who knows when I could do this again, or if I can ever do this again in the future.

I swung myself and reminisced the life I had before this, trying to think of any difference. But there wasn't much, perhaps the only difference was that I wasn't in any physical pain before. Unlike now.

Sometimes I can't help but wonder how my life would be if I was normal, like the other kids at my school.

I remember that I once had a pet goldfish, except, it died right after we bought it. The reason was because I thought it would be nice if there were bubbles in its small aquarium.

So I foolishly put some dish soap in it and created bubbles inside, pushing the small fish into agony as it wriggled around causing it to die.

And that was the end of my silly ambition of trying to have a pet. I didn't want to murder more animals. So it would be best if they stay far from me, and I am with them.

"Tch..." I laughed a little at my thoughts and stared once again at the pristine clear water.

"Mmmm-mmm-mmmm..."

I started humming some random tunes and a beautiful song suddenly entered my mind.

A song that moved me the first I heard it.

[My Life by Imagine Dragons]

"Can I wish for another life

Cause I feel like I'm on my own tonight

And I find myself in pieces

There are pills on the table and a thought in my head

And I walk through the halls where I used to be led

My heart is filled with reasons."

I breathed in and out and closed my eyes, trying to feel the message of the song.

"I'm trying to be somebody else

I'm findin it hard to love myself

I've wanted to be somebody new

But that is impossible to do-"

I smiled dryly and didn't finish the song. I leaned my head on the thick rope and laid back to rest. I constantly moved my feet that were dangling below so that I would slightly swivel, and I didn't even notice when I started to doze off.

Everything happened so fast after that.

When I woke up, an unknown man was standing on his back in front of me. He was by the river, throwing rocks around while whistling.

When he heard me shuffle, he instantly turned to me and gave me one of the warmest smiles that I've seen. It's him. Sian.

"Oh! I see you're awake sleepy bunny. Still a heavy sleeper huh?" He said while slowly walking towards me with a thrilled look.

When he was close to me. He did the most unspeakable thing that no one would ever dare do to me without caution.

He hugged me. He pressed my face against his muscular chest, caressing my hair at the same time, and I didn't know what to do, besides the thing that I always do to strangers whenever I feel attacked.

I abruptly pried myself away from him, and my hand just moved by itself in instinct.

I punched him. Hard.