- 4.
I looked at Liam, opened my mouth, but
couldn’t find the words.
I had lied to Liam. My parents had died in a
car crash.
That day, they’d left me home alone.
I’d found their divorce papers in the study.
They’d been on their way to finalize it.
They fought constantly, in front of me.
Shouting, throwing things, tearing each other
down.
<
Sometimes, they even got physical with me.
I’d been diagnosed with depression in middle
school.
My mom would hold me and cry.
“Scarlett, I’m so sorry. I haven’t been there for
you.”
My dad would stroke my hair.
“Take your meds, and tell us if you’re not
feeling well. Don’t keep it inside.”
I wanted to believe they loved me.
But if they did, couldn’t they stay together for
my sake?
I called my mom, but I heard them arguing.
“Ronald, is this you? If you don’t want
Scarlett, just say it. Why tell her about the
divorce?”
“Are you crazy? I didn’t tell her anything. You
don’t want her either. All you care about is
finding someone new. What are you doing,
you crazy woman? I’m driving!”
During their argument, I found myself on the
roof.
They didn’t love me. They thought I was a
burden.
I wouldn’t be a problem for them anymore.
“Mom, Dad, stop fighting! I won’t…” I won’t be
a burden.
The crash was deafening.
My parents died in the accident, and hit
another father and son.
The father died saving his son.
That was Liam and his dad.
My parents‘ death was devastating, but
stopped me from killing myself.
I dropped out of school to focus on my
health.
Once I got better, I thought of the boy whose
life my parents had ruined.
His life had gotten so much worse. The
insurance money was gone, taken by his
<
father’s creditors.
He couldn’t even afford high school.
So, I found his contact information and
became his anonymous benefactor.
I wasn’t in school or working. I’d secretly
watch Liam.
His school uniform looked clean and crisp. He
always zipped his jacket up tight.
Students would tease him about his past, but
he would just walk right past them, calm and
confident.
Like a strong, resilient tree.
I painted him a lot, and hid the paintings in
my studio.
Sometimes, we would meet. I got lost in a
book at a bookstore and bumped into him.
He helped me pick up my books, smiling.
“I’ve seen you around. You’re in high school,
right? Don’t think I’ve seen you at school.”
I didn’t answer. I ran off.
く
After a while, I figured Liam wouldn’t
remember me. So, I started watching him
again.
I saw him constantly look around, like he was
searching for something.
Then, I stood in front of Liam as his
benefactor.
When he saw me, his eyes lit up, but they
dimmed, just like a star across the night sky.
I could be honest with Liam about my
depression, but I could never tell him that my
parents had killed his father.
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