Everybody I left Behind

Chapter Two

Sitting across from him feels different. He looks and sounds so different from the cute, funny high school boy I knew back then. His smile is still the same, his voice similar yet so much more mature now. Physically, he looks like the older brother of the boy I knew, but he isn't. This is the boy I knew, just much older now.

He used to be part of a rap crew back in high school. We were all in the same class in eighth grade, and his friends were... not very nice, but he was. He still has the same warmth in his eyes and that mischievous side grin.

"I haven't seen you in so long. How have you been?" he asks softly.

I hesitate before I answer. The last time I saw him was the year I dropped out of high school, in tenth grade. How do I respond to his question?

"Pretty good, I guess. How are you?" I finally answer.

He frowns a little, then smiles again.

"Very well, thank you. When did you return? I was surprised to see your name on the registration form for your son. Last I heard, you had left town," he continues.

He remembered my full name, I think to myself.

"We actually returned yesterday. I made the application for my son online about two months ago," I explain.

He nods in understanding. He checks his watch and stands up.

"I need to get to class now, but can we hang out sometime, if you'd like, of course?" he asks.

"Mr Smith, I don't think that's appropriate between a teacher and a parent," I say.

He laughs and shakes his head.

"Mr Smith sounds so formal. Call me Gabriel. We're old friends, are we not?" he says, still laughing.

I stand from the chair and smile.

"Maybe sometime after we get settled. For now, I have to get going as well. These errands aren't going to run themselves."

We exchange goodbyes and leave his office.

I stand by the school gate as I wait for my Uber to arrive. For the next few minutes, I look around at the small community I grew up in. Everything has stayed the same over the years, I guess. That is the downside of a small township; not much changes, regardless of how many years go by.

The Uber drops me off at the mall, and I rush to the furniture store. We need beds. Sleeping on sponges isn't for the faint-hearted.

My whole body feels weird.

Luckily, this store is fairly affordable, so I get a three-seater couch, two beds, a wardrobe for me, and a chest of drawers for Ethan. Once the delivery is confirmed, I move on to the next store, which is the grocery store.

My whole mall trip takes no less than four hours, and I head back home tired and starving.

As I pack away the groceries, I hear a knock on the door.

My heart almost stops beating as soon as I open it.

See, the thing about small towns is that everyone knows everyone else, and the chances of you meeting someone from the past are very high.

The shock must have shown on my face because the man in front of me laughs so hard.

"I'm sure you weren't expecting to see me so soon, yeah?" he says with a smile.

"Zach," I whisper.

I give him the biggest hug.

He holds me for so long that I feel my eyes burning and brimming with tears.

Zachary was my protector in high school. He used to tell everyone I was his little sister, and that protected me from so much bullying. He taught me so much in such a short time that it felt like I had known him forever.

"What? Are you crying?" he asks.

I punch his chest.

"You're dumb, do you know that?" I ask as I turn away to wipe my tears.

He laughs at me once again.

"Oh, Amara. You have always been a crybaby. How are you, my love? Where is the big man?" he asks.

"At school," I answer. "I sent him to the same primary school I went to. Exciting, isn't it?"

I laugh.

He pauses for a moment before remembering.

"Ohhh, yeah. The one Gabriel Smith teaches at now," he says. "Did you see him?" he continues.

"I guess I'm the only one who didn't know Gabriel was a teacher now. He's actually Ethan's class teacher," I explain.

"You didn't tell me why you're here," I say.

He rolls his eyes.

"Did you not buy furniture today?" he asks.

I must have looked confused because he continues.

"I own the store and complete all my deliveries myself. It wasn't easy expediting the process, but I knew I had to as soon as I saw your name," he says with a smile.

"Let me tell the boys to bring everything in quickly before you have to pick up Ethan."

He goes outside and comes back with a few other guys who help put everything where it belongs.

We have a quick lunch together before he has to leave, and I walk out with him to pick up my son.

He opens the truck door to get in but turns back.

"Hey, have you spoken to..."

I stop him.

Somehow, I know where he is going with his question, and I really don't want to answer that right now.

"Please don't. I'm not ready," I tell him.

He looks at me sadly, then nods.

"I understand. I'll give you a call over the weekend. It's time you meet my wife," he says happily.

I smile and walk away.