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"So, I know you’ve been here the longest, but how long has that been?" I ask quietly. We don't need to wake anyone and alert them of our presence.
"Well, I got here in December. It is officially eight months as of tonight."
I gawk at him. "Eight months? How have you kept your sanity? I've only been here for a couple of days, and I'm ready to give up."
"It's been rough, I won't sugarcoat that. Unfortunately, I was taken from a decent house in the British Virgin Islands, my mum, my baby brother, and a well-paying job." Tyr puts his head down. "I wonder every day if they still look for me. If my mum is okay with raising my brother, and how hard he has been on her."
"How old is he?"
"He’s nine, and he has Down Syndrome. His upbringing hasn't been the best or easiest, but it was fun. I was fifteen when he was born, so having a newborn in the house wasn't ideal for me." He glances at me and then points to the sky right as a shooting star flies overhead. "This is what I wanted you to see."
His face lights up with so much joy that he beams just like the moon. I can't help but watch him for a moment before turning my attention to the sky. We watch the shooting stars fly by for a few moments before I turn back to him.
"I left both of my parents and my best friend Aimee behind. I don't know what happened to her, and I can't help but think the worst. She was asleep on the beach the last time I saw her." Tears slip from my eyes. "I just want her to know that I'm alright. I know my parents must be in shock and have probably already called the news outlets and police, but I'd like to think they will be okay eventually."
Tyr looks down at me, catching my gaze. I go to turn my head away. I hate people seeing me cry, and it has already happened so many times in the last few days. Before I can do it myself, he grabs me by my chin and wipes the tears away with his thumb.
"Shhh," he comforts me. "I told you we would get out of this eventually. We will find out what happened to Aimee, and we'll both see our families again."
I know that it has only been a short time since I've met Tyr, and I know that things are just going to get complicated, but I can't help it. I shift my body so that I’m pressed up against his side. He throws his arm around my shoulders and pulls me against him. We sit like that for a few minutes. He then lays down and tugs my head so it is gently forced onto his chest.
"This is called the Perseid Meteor Shower. It happens every year, from August eleventh through the thirteenth. It's always been the best birthday present I've ever received. Until this year. Having you here..." Tyr trails off and grabs my chin again, tilting my head so that our eyes meet. "I know this isn't conventional. I know that we know nothing about each other, and I even know that this is probably a horrible idea. But you are the best birthday present I could have gotten. Just another person, broken like me, keeping me company in this fucked up mansion."
He lets go of my face and turns back to the sky. I keep staring at him, not knowing how to reply, or what I feel. I watch a tear fall from the corner of his eye and reach up to wipe it away like he has done for me.
"Happy Birthday, Tyr." That's all I can say. I stare at him for a few moments before turning back to face the stars. We sit in comfortable silence, lying on the roof, listening to the waves, and watching the shooting stars grow brighter and brighter on every pass.
Breaking the silence, I ask, "Did you know that most of these meteors are super tiny? Like, quarter or dime-sized?"
"No, I didn't. How do you know that?" he asks.
"I'm kinda like a walking, talking, breathing book of random useless knowledge."
He chuckles. "I don't think it's useless. I do, however, think it's random that you know that."
I smile. I think it’s the first time since I got there.
"Oh shit, I didn't know you knew how to smile," Tyr teases.
I use the same hand that I wiped his tears away to swat at his chest playfully. "Asshole."
He snickers at me and grabs my hand. Bringing it up to his lips, he kisses my palm and holds it up to his face for a few seconds. He takes a moment to inhale my scent. Never letting go of my hand, he brings it down to lay it on his chest in the same spot I hit him.
Before it gets too late, we decide it is best to go back inside and to our rooms. We both need some sleep before tomorrow.
Walking back down the stairs with hushed footsteps, we finally make it to my hallway. Unfortunately, Roger comes around the corner right as I enter my doorway.
Shit.
Crawl To Me
Tyr puts his hand on my hip and pushes me into my room. He grabs the handle and pulls the door shut.
"It was my idea. It's my birthday, and I just wanted to show her the stars. I'm so sorry, sir. I'll do whatever I need to, just leave her alone." I hear Tyr panic-stricken outside my door.
"You're going to regret your entire life choices, boy."
All I can hear next is Roger huffing and a smack. After that, silence.
