Page 19 - Diane Musgrove Issue

INCREDIBLE KIDS OF SAN DIEGO

difficult, but what force pos- he grabbed my hand. The same we should sit and talk. I think sketchbooks. You really have a
sesses someone to help a total hand that was red with thin cuts it'll make more sense once I way with words and imagery!"
stranger? I wanted to know. and marks from the man who explain." I laughed, and he pushed the
I gathered up what little tried to take me off the bus to We sat at a table in a nearby book closer to me.
courage I had and began to push who knows where. My eyes were coffee shop. "Do you want me "I died when I was young.
my way through the crowd. filled with fear, no, something to get you anything?" I asked. Really young. So young that I
Finally, I reached the very back even deeper, as the boy's hand "Thanks, but I never really drank can't remember anything about
of the bus and sat behind him. fell right through. The blood ran coffee while I was alive, so..." he myself!" He glanced uncertain-
I could see him glance back at from my face. My jaw fell open, replied, shrugging. I nodded, ly at me, but the hope inside
me through the reflection on the my voice lost in utter confusion getting up and walking over his eyes was unmistakable. "If
window. He turned pink when as the bus prepared to drop me to the counter. Once I finished I manage to help you, I'll be
he realized he had been caught. off. ordering, the barista asked, accepted into heaven and be
He turned to face me, not "Wait!" the boy cried in "Are you on a call?" Confused, able to remember! The thing is,
bothering to pull off his head- a desperate plea, "I know it's I replied, "Excuse me?" The I was too young to understand
phones. “I just wanted to thank your stop, but please don't go!" barista moved her hair to reveal what it was I'd be helping you
you for helping me the other The fear I was feeling shook airpods. "Are you on a call?" she with. It went in one ear and out
day,” I said loudly, hoping he my core. Was this some twisted asked again, laughing. I nodded, the other..." I scoffed as he said
had heard me. He stared blankly dream? Some twisted retelling of smiling politely as I took the two quickly, judging by the annoyed
at me in reply. I pretended to yesterday's events? The moment iced coffees to the table. I hoped look on my face, "But I do have
pull headphones off my own the doors opened, I ran. I moved she didn’t notice my airpod-less an idea of what has to be done!
head. He slid them around his faster than I had before. I looked ears. Are you– are you mad?" I shook
neck, taking the hint. “I wanted over my shoulder to see the Once I was seated, the boy my head, finishing the remains
to thank you,” I repeated at a boy only a few inches behind smiled awkwardly. "Thanks of my first coffee. "No, kinda.
normal volume, “For helping me, running at the same pace. for thinking of me," he started Maybe. Yeah... But, I mean,
me when that man tried to drag "I know what you're thinking," nervously, "But I couldn't drink I've been fine without you." I
me off the bus with him. I really he tried, now running next to it even if I wanted to." I laughed said. He nodded in reply, then
should have thanked you right me. "No, you don't," I began, as I took a sip from the cup. announced, "Take a look at my
after the incident, but I was just "Now leave me alone." I quickly "Oh! These are both for me! You art." I laughed as I took the book
so shook up.” He slowly began to pivoted and began to run in the know, to get through this con- in my hands.
turn pale, his eyes widening with other direction. The boy didn't versation." His mouth formed a "Just not the more recent
uncertainty. “Are you... okay?” I miss a beat. "No, I know," his small "O" shape as he nodded. stuff," he said quickly, "My
asked. He blinked once, twice, soft voice rang in my ears, "That "So..." I prompted, "What the sketches are pretty far ahead
before whispering in a single man that tried to abduct you heck? You're a person only I can of your life. You could say I
breath, “You shouldn’t be able to unlocked something deep inside see, and you know my every know how your story ends."
see me right now.” of you. Something you thought thought?!" His eyes widened, He winked, and I nodded, but I
I stared him down. “You’re was locked away for good. I and he leaned back in his chair. didn't have it in me to open the
joking.” I deadpanned. The know it terrified you, that you "Let's start from the top," I book. I could barely lift the page.
boy smirked at me, proceeding thought it was over and that decided. He nodded and pulled The overwhelming fear in my
to punch the old lady sitting you'd been healed. But I've been a sketchbook, his sketchbook he chest was swallowing me. Did
in front of him. I covered my sent to help you finally close that left on the bus, out of thin air. I this boy know how I'd die? Did
mouth as his fist flew straight open wound." He ran backward gaped at him. He laughed, scoot- he warn me because it was bad?
through the back of her head as to face me, looking straight into ing the book towards the center "It's okay if you don't want
if he wasn’t there at all. my eyes as he said with a little of the table, then said, "When to see. I know this is all a lot to
I felt the warmth rush out more confidence, "I can help I was a new ghost, I heard you take in..." he mumbled softly. I
of my face. I felt lightheaded. you, Lotus." in my head. I never heard your gulped down my second coffee
“Oh, my God.” I slowly began I froze. "Who told you my voice in the real world, though, and replied, "No. I want to see.
to leave my seat. He reached out name?" I demanded. My voice so I never had a face to put with I might as well jump straight in
towards me, a look of concern was filled with heat, my eyes the name. But that day on the now because you sure as hell
falling over his face. I automati- shining with a hateful rage. The bus, when you spoke for the first aren't easing me in!" I opened
cally dodged his reaching hands. boy stopped running. "No one!" time, trying to call for help and the sketchbook to a random
“Don't you dare!" I hissed, mov- he cried out in surprise. Then telling that man off, I recognized page, peering at the illustra-
ing towards the door, not daring he snickered, "Actually, you your voice! I finally found who tion. It was me in a suit of lotus
to take my eyes off of the boy. He did." I scoffed. "When." "Every you were! I finally found the one petals, a crown of vines, and
jumped up, moving through the day. Ever since I died, I could I was sent to help!" He sighed lotus flowers resting on my thick
people and seats as if they were always hear your inner voice deeply. His eyes looked from the hair. I was sitting on a lily pad in
made of nothing at all. I stum- and thoughts!" he explained. book back to me. "Every thought the center of an empty, murky
bled backward in surprise as I narrowed my eyes. "Maybe I heard after my life I drew in pond. Around me were words in

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