The Distance pt. 1

THE DISTANCE

Preface;

JUSTIN’s life has been turned
Upside down after losing
His parents!
To make matters worse his
Ex-abusive girlfriend is
Back in his life making
It difficult for him to
Make the right choices
So he can go the distance!







Chp. 1

Justin holds the flyer in his hands, “Chuckie Cheese”, he groans miserably. He turns to his friend, Trace Alya, “This is the only place that I can do, right now with high school and all. I need the money to finish my education.”
“We all need money for something, J.”
“I guess, but this place gives me a strange feeling that I can’t put my finger on. Marry Mclean put up this ad and the name is all too familiar.”
“Just go for the interview and see what happens. Your education is at stake here.”
He sighs, “You’re right. I got to do this.”

Justin finds himself with about twenty other people trying to get a job. He waits patiently for his turn with the interviewer. He shakes his head in disappointment in the lack of intelligence in these people, “Do they even try?” He puts on his best smile and shakes the woman’s hand, “My name’s Justin Timberlake.”
“Hello Justin, my name is Liz. Why do you want this job?”
He takes a seat in the chair, “I need money to finish my high school education. I can hardly afford to pay the bills on my home. I’m using the money from my parents will to pay for it, but it won’t last forever. I’m scared of losing what I’ve worked so hard for. Losing my parents was hard enough. It’s difficult to get a job when you’re 17 and still in school.”
“I’m sure we can find you something to do. What are you into?”
He laughs, “I love games and parties.”
“We’ll try you out with setting up the birthday parties and see how you do.”
He nods his head, “Thank you. I’ll always be on time! What time do I need to come in?”
“Be here around five each week day. Your job is to take calls and write down their information. You are in charge of ordering the party supplies and anything special the guest’s request.”

School combined with work drains Justin, but he isn’t about to quit his education and throw away his chances of doing something good with his life. He brings his books to work doing them on the side as calls come in. He is exhausted when he returns home. Part of his check goes for transportation to and from work. He can’t afford a car and the bus route does not go even close to the restaurant he works at. Trace comes to get him occasionally.


Justin’s eyelids droop as he makes his way into his small home, throwing his backpack onto the ground. He undresses and gets to bed, knowing he has school in six hours.

Morning comes fast and Justin is exhausted. He lifts his head from the pillow, “@#$%” another morning in the life of Justin Timberlake.


A loud squeal comes from around the corner. A chill runs down his spine, “No it can’t be. Could life be much worse?”


A rebel female with slut written all over her face stands before him. “You haven’t changed much, Justin, since I……….”
“What you did was wrong and what are you doing back here?”
“None of your business Mr. You better get back to your honor society and all those other bright people clubs.”
He rolls his eyes, “Shouldn’t you still be in prison?”
She snickers, “I can’t be in that juvenile place forever! I’ve reformed.”
“Reformed into what? You look like the Slut Goddess!”
She pins him against the wall, “You just never mind. You say anything about my past and be warned! You know what I can do.”
Justin knows all too well what she can do and isn’t about to tempt her, “Okay Marry.”

He heads to his morning class with little time to spare and takes a seat, breathing heavily, as the bell rings. He gets out his assignment and hands it to his teacher. His blue eyes can hardly stay opened through class, but he’s hoping his teacher doesn’t notice.
“Mr. Timberlake, I’d like a word with you after class.”
Justin’s heart sinks into his chest, “Yes, Mr. Kirkpatrick.”
All eyes are on the curly haired guy who can’t keep his blue eyes open.
Mr. Kirkpatrick examines the weary young man, “son, are you getting enough sleep?”
“No Sir, I’ve been working after school and get about six hours. I’m doing it for my education. I want to graduate come June.”
“Justin, you can’t pass if you can’t stay awake in class. You need to cut back.”
“If, I cut back I’ll be out of a home. I need to pay for things to keep the home going.”
“Unfortunately, you may have to decide between the two. You look horrible and desperately need a break.”
Justin realizes his teacher is right, but hasn’t a clue on how to fix the problem. He rushes to work with his books in his backpack, “No that’s not her”, he tells himself.
“Well, what do we have here? It’s Mr. Smarty. Sucks to be you. I’m going to make your job hell!”
He shrugs his shoulders in defeat, “Marry Mclean. I knew this place was corrupt.”
Justin deals with her as best as he can. This job is so important to him. He sits in the room alone with his books reading over the materials. The slightest sound sends shivers up his spine, “Don’t get caught in her web”, he repeats to himself.


Justin turns on his favorite song, “I can Go the Distance”, by Michael Bolton. “I know every mile will be worth my while!” He sighs, “I can and will go the distance. I don’t think I’ll come out a hero only to myself, and I doubt crowds will be cheering.” He wipes a few tears from his eyes looking over at the clock, waiting to leave most have already, but he has to stay beyond the time they're closed to the general public. He packs up his backpack and signs himself out.

Justin smiles sleepily at Trace putting down his bag. He heads to his bedroom collapsing on the bed.
Trace covers his friend with a blanket and leaves him alone to sleep. He is happy it is weekend so Justin can finally get some sleep.

Justin meets a friendly woman while he’s at the park. He feels at ease with her warm personally. Aside from Trace Justin hasn’t been around anyone who was looking out for his best interest. He smiles shyly picking up his basketball and takes a seat on the bench. He leans against it sleepily.
“Why are you so tired?”
“I have school and a job” he states softly, closing his blue eyes.
“What’s that on your hand?”
“My boss hates me, but I have no place else to go! I need money to keep my home!”

He dribbles his ball on the pavement nearly ready to fall. His body’s weak from not eating enough and the lack of sleep. She catches him, before he goes down and offers to get him some real food.
Justin hasn’t had a home cooked meal since his parents had passed. He ordered a pasta dish and ate it all thanking her for her generosity. Sleep still filled his body, and his eyelids drooping nearly shut.

They go back to the park and Justin falls asleep.

She sighs, “Hey, let’s get you home to your bed.” She nudges him but he doesn’t hear her. She gets him in a standing position but sees that isn’t going to work. “Maybe, I can carry you.” She’s surprised that he doesn’t weigh much. “Damn I have no clue where he lives! You got to wake for me, please!” He doesn’t respond. Instead, Justin moans, as if he is in a great deal of pain. She takes him to her house and watches him.
Justin lets out a cry of fear when he gazes around the unfamiliar surroundings. He stands up dizzily and grabs onto the couch.
“I see you’re up.” She smiles warmly, “I won’t hurt you. “
His body trembles when she touches him. He is so quiet and nonverbal when people want to make close contact with him. Any touching causes him to back away. He only trusted his mom’s loving arms after months of therapy.
“Shhh”………. She says. She envelopes him safely in her arms. “You shouldn’t be scared.”
His eyes show the fear that lay deep inside of him. “She’s going to hurt me again.”
“Who’s going to hurt you?”
“I can’t say or I’ll pay for it.”
“Yes, you can. You need to stop the cycle of abuse.”


Justin’s silent as he rests his head against her shoulder and sobs. Justin has openly cried since he said goodbye to his parents. The tears seem endless until sleep comes again and the ‘Shhh…………,” come once more to comfort him.


Her friend walk in the door, “See you found another job there.”
“He needs a lot of consoling. This kid has been through the ringer probably more than once, Cee.” She runs her hands through his golden curls.”
“You’re probably right, Mia. How long you plan on keeping him?”
“I think he’ll go home but come back. I’ll give him my number and we’ll go from there.”
“That kid is so thin. He probably hasn’t eaten in days.”
“He told me he was eating little things, so I bought him a real meal, and he loved it. He still seemed starved then the kid fell asleep.”
“He looks at peace in your arms.”
“He was terrified of being touched, but the tiredness allowed me to win. He’s far too drowsy to put up a fight.” She sighs, “I doubt he gets this kind of attention at home.”





























Chp. 2


“I can’t pay for it.”
Mia puts her hand on his shoulders, “You don’t have to pay me anything. We’ll just talk on the phone or you can come over on weekends. I’ll even drive you. I’m not expecting you to walk this distance. Here’s my number.”
“Thank you”, he states getting up from the hardwood floor.
“Justin, you should get some more rest, before school begins.”
“I’ll try too Mrs.”


Trace comes over to assist Justin with his social studies report. Justin’s spelling is terrible, but it’s not his fault. He shows Justin what the words should look like. “You’re doing great with the report.”
“Some days, it’s easier to spell words. I practice when I can, the most difficult words.”
“All you can do is try, Justin. You’re doing well for all that you’ve been through.”
Justin staples the pages together and puts them away in one of his folders. He takes out his biology book and then a tape of the lesson. He inserts the tape into his tape player and turns to the correct page to follow along. This cuts down on all the reading and gives him a better understanding of the material. He puts his book and tape back into his sack and sits down on the couch.
He rests his head on one of the pillows behind him closing his blue eyes. Trace covers him with a blanket and leaves.
Justin has a tough day at school because Marry harasses him. He is afraid to tell anyone. He doesn’t want to lose his job. He sits down at the lunch table with an apple and his personal notebook to write his thoughts about life in general. He eats his fruit as he writes.


September 8th

“Two months ago my parents died. I still blame myself. I wish, I didn’t ask them to bring me out that night. I miss them, Mom more than Dad. Mom under stood me. Dad was angery. Marry made him anger at me. I was beat by a girl. Dad didn’t under stand she was dangerus and hurt me. I still love Dad and miss Mom’s hugs.
School is difficult with out them. The accident caused me to have truble spelling and reading. My Frend, Trace, helps me spell. I listen to tapes and read.
I have a new job. It is a lot of work. I work long hours. Marry is there. She pushed me in to a wall. My hand be came soar. Wish she’d go a way!


I met somebody nice playing b-ask-et- ball. She bought me a meal. She didn’t like me unhappy. I want to smile. But, life isn’t good enough. You’d be deperessed if you were me. I try to have fun. But don’t have time with school and work. “


He shoves it back into his backpack and heads to his next class. He enjoys English class despite his deficits. Justin is one of the top students in the class. He is always prepared and on time, never letting his teacher down.


Justin makes it through another week of horror excited about his free time over the weekend. He goes to the park to play basketball appearing sickly as the time before.
Mia calls out, “Hey there, Justin. How come you haven’t called me?”
“I don’t have a phone’, he sighs. He dribbles the ball on the smooth pavement.”
“I’ll give you a calling card. You shouldn’t have to deal with all these things on your own. How would you like a family?”
“My friend is my family.”
“Unless your friend can support you financially and help you deal with the abuse you’re facing you need to get some extra help.”
“How, when he’s the only outside person who cares about me?”
“Let’s deal with the abuse first. Is this abuse physical or verbal?”
He remains silent, for several minutes. “I can’t talk here.”


She takes him back to her place, “Okay tell me here.”
He nods his head nervously, “So far it’s mostly verbal. I used to get beaten by her. She is one of the people in charge of the restaurant I work for.” His cheeks tremble, “I don’t want to lose my job. She said she’ll have me fired, if she finds out I told about her being abusive. If I lose my job, I won’t be able to go to school anymore, because I’ll lose my home.”
“Justin, I’m going to make sure you don’t lose your home. This is all too much for a young man to face alone. Just tell me her name and where you work.”
She embraces him as tears roll down his cheeks. “It’s good to let it out, Justin.” She gently massages his back, though he tries to back away. She knows it may take him awhile to tell her everything. She listens as his sobs come to a stop. He’s so exhausted from the week and crying that he starts to fall asleep.
She holds his skinny body as he sleeps. “He’s so beautiful. I’d love a son like him.” She takes Justin home explaining to his friend what had happened. “Give him this calling card. He needs to get in contact with me.”


“Sure will.”
Trace has some food for Justin when he wakes. He wishes he could afford to buy his friend more food. He has some chicken, bread, pasta and bottled water.


Justin is thankful for the food.
“You eat all of it J. You don’t get enough to eat.”


Justin goes for a ride in Trace’s car. He sits beside Trace in the front listening to the radio. He tilts his head against the soft padding. “Trace, thanks for being here with me through all this.”
“I’ll always be here for you, Justin.”
He cries, “I still think it’s my fault.”
Trace glances at him, “J, fate did it. You can’t change that. I doubt they are blaming you in heaven. What happened couldn’t have been predicted.”
Justin shrugs his shoulders, “I don’t even remember those last moments with them.”
“You hit your head, Just. You were quite sick for a good couple of weeks.”
“I wish I could erase up until now.”
“That’s life, Justin. You have to face it head on!” He stops the car hugging Justin. “We’re going to get through this! I promise!”





























Chp. 3

Trace smiles at his young friend, “Don’t stay out there too long, Justin. The wind is chilling. I don’t want you getting sick.”


Justin adjusts his jacket and puts up his hood to block the harsh wind, as he steps outside his small home. He holds his basketball tightly in his hands, not allowing the wind to get it. This isn’t just a basketball to him. His parents gave it to him before the accident. The walk to the park is no picnic for him, but he is used to the surroundings by now.
He turns down a narrow street where an African American sits on the cement steps. Justin waves to him and he returns the gesture. He remembers being scared of him before, but has come to be friendly with many of the people who live on the streets.
The next street is filled with scents of good foods and perfumes and is loaded with people shopping all through the year. His stomach groans wanting food, but it is all too expensive. He finds it hard to get food with only a few dollars in his pocket. He takes a seat on one of the benches putting his ball down. He sighs knowing the park is another three blocks away.
Justin looks into the store windows at the displays of sports merchandise. He notices the lettermen jackets with his school’s colors and wishes that he could afford one. “Oh forget the jacket. I just want to be back on the team, but I screwed myself and this is my punishment.”


Reaching the park relieves him as he takes to the court. He wonders why nobody ever comes here, but figures it’s too out of the way for most. The majority of students at his school had families with a fairly good income.
Mia gazes at the young man playing basketball in clothes that are baggy on his thin frame. For a teen that goes outside everyday he doesn’t have the color he should. This seems to be his only freedom from his hectic life, but the weather won’t allow him too much longer. She can see his breaths and how cold he is, but none of that is important to him. She has come to realize Justin’s a skillful ball player and has been for some time.
He stops playing long enough to sit down beside her. His heart is still pounding from the workout and his breaths are heavy.
“How long have you been playing basketball?”
“I’ve been playing forever, it seems. It’s what keeps me out of trouble.”
“You have talent. You must practice all of your free time.”
“It allows me to clear my head. I think playing releases some of the anger inside. I was going to play on the team at school this year. I was one of their best players, but after my parents passed I to get a job so I could stay in school. These past months have been insane. I’ve dealt with things a year ago I didn’t think I could handle. I wouldn’t say I’m a grown up, but I’ve grown. “


Justin returns to his ball playing. A smile forms as he shoots and scores. He rarely grins from true happiness. The abuse is getting to him and he couldn’t be more frightened.


Mia wraps a blanket around him noticing sores on his face. She grabs medication to put on his open wounds. “Did she give you those?”
“I was trying to protect myself and she attacked. She hit me hard. Then, I tried to get away, but she grabbed me again. I don’t want to go back. “He closes his eyes as tears trickle down his face.
“You’re not going back there. You may get seriously hurt.”
Justin sobs, “School.”
“You’re going to go to school and keep the house. Let me help you, Justin.”
Trusting people is tough for him, but he nods his head, wanting the pain to end.
“Here Justin take this! It’ll make you feel better.”
He takes the medicine from her hands and sips the water. He leans against her closing his eyes, just like he used to with his mom. He yawns starting to fall asleep. She moves her arms gently around his thin body so he won’t fall backward. She gets him comfortable on the couch. She sees the scars on his face and wonders if they are from Marry or something else.


Justin leafs through the book on the coffee table next to the couch. He puts it back down, as she looks in his direction.
“Do you like those kinds of books?”
Justin sits there not sure what to say, unsure of what the book is really about, “Sometimes.”
She can tell by his eyes that something isn’t right, but doesn’t know what. She opens the book. “It’s one of my favorites.”
“I didn’t look at it very much.”
“Why don’t you take it with you and you can tell me what you think of it?”
“I have school.”
“You still have another day until school.”
He shrugs his shoulders, knowing this book is beyond what he knows. He isn’t stupid, but just looking over these words causes him a headache. He hopes Trace might read to him or at least explain to him what it’s about. He doubts it has anything to do with the picture featured on there.

Justin presents the book to Trace. “Can you explain the book to me?”
“This book is about physiology.” He points to the word so Justin will remember it. “It is a story based on one person’s life experiences and how they dealt with them. There is a lot of complex vocabulary in here. I’d even have to get a dictionary to know what some of these words are. You should stick to simpler books.”
“I don’t like those, Trace.”


“The doctor said you got to work your way up. You’ve gotten a lot better at reading and writing. Don’t give in now, J!”
“I won’t, Trace!” I promise! I’m going to graduate with honors!”
Trace has faith that Justin will do just what he says he will. He has always believed in his younger friend.

Justin is relieved to go to Mia’s instead of work He hands her the book.
“What do you think of the book, Justin?”
“It was hard to understand”, he admits shyly placing his book bag on the floor.”
“I have simpler ones, if you like that topic, Justin.” She shows Justin the easier to read books and he seems more fascinated in them. She’ll try anything to get him to be open with her.
She finds him to be extremely thoughtful, always trying to repay her for her kindness. He isn’t your average teenager. He sees and knows beyond his years. He needs to learn to not do everything on his own.
Justin sits down and removes his books from his backpack’@#$% Timberlake’, he hears in his head. Tears run down his cheeks, “She’s going to cause me pain at school.” He hears Marry several times repeating the phrase. He sings to himself to block out her voice. He remembers he did this when she caused him problems before. It was soothing and then his mom would sing too and tell him she wouldn’t be around for long.
Before he knows it Mia has her arms around him trying to quiet his cries like his mom used too. “Shhh………… She won’t hurt you anymore.” She feels his head on her shoulder and gently rocks him back and forth. “Let’s get this homework out of the way so we can have fun.”
Justin wonders what Mia has in mind as he works on his homework. He puts his books and tapes in his bag and sits down on the couch. He sighs leaning against a fluffy pillow.



















Chp. 4


Mia hands Justin his jacket. “We’re going to go out for a bit.”
Justin puts on his jacket and hat and follows Mia to her car. He gets in the passenger side and buckles his belt. “Where are we going?”
“You’ll see, soon enough. We’re going to have your friend tag along, if that is okay with you.”
He nods his head, “Sure.”

They pull in at Justin’s house and Trace is standing in the driveway, ready to go.

They drive for about twenty minutes before pulling into a large parking lot. His blue eyes open wide at the large number of cars and people. He hadn’t seen anything like this before. This place is huge as he gets out of the car. As they get closer to the building he recognizes it.
Excitement flows through his body as Mia gives him a ticket. His heart pounds waiting in the long line to get into the venue. He smiles, “Thank you.”
Mia grins, “So happy you’re excited, Justin.”
This is Justin’s first basketball game to go too and he is having an awesome time with his best friend and Mia. He never imagined going to a real NBA game. It is all too surreal for him as he stands there cheering on his favorite team, instead of being beat.
He takes a sip of the soda, something he hasn’t tasted in so long. It’s sweet and enjoyable. It’s nothing like what he’s been eating. His stomach growls and grumbles not accustomed to all the new things he hasn’t eaten for months.


Justin writes about the basketball game in his journal.

“November 6th

Mia brought me and Trace to see my favorit team. I didn’t think I get to see them. I had fun with them. B-ask-et- ball is fun to watch and play. The cheers were loud. Music blasted from the speakers.
Mia is like my Mom. But, no body takes Mom’s place. A mom can’t be re-placed.
Marry will be angery be cause I didn’t go two work. I don’t want two hurt. My face is still soar.”


Justin puts his journal away and hops into his bed. He is exhausted and falls asleep quickly.


Trace hears Justin crying and comes in to see what’s wrong.


“I had a nightmare about Marry she was treating me terrible and I couldn’t get her to stop.”
“You have to stay away from her. She’s dangerous.”
“I try, but she finds me. She hates me”, he sobs.
After some talking, Trace gets Justin back asleep. He covers him with the blanket and goes back to bed himself.


Trace enters Justin’s room in the morning, “Just where are you? You have to get ready for school.”
Trace can’t imagine where his younger friend could have gone. It doesn’t make sense to him to just leave. He runs his hands through his hair, as a cry comes from somewhere. He listens intently figuring out where the sobs are coming from. He heads toward the bathroom and looks in at his friend. “Just, what’s wrong?”
“I don’t want to go to school. She’s going to hurt him.”
“Why don’t we contact the school and tell them she’s harassing you?”
“The other students already give me dirty looks. You know how they can be?”
“Yes, but they don’t have to know it’s about you.”
“She’s going to tell them. She’s a royal @#$%!”

Trace calms down his friend, and gets him safely to school. He offers to get Justin from school and Justin accepts the offer.

Marry doesn’t bother him until lunch when he’s eating his fruit and writing in his book. She slams her fist down on the table, causing him to look up at her with fear evident in his blue berry eyes.
“What’s the deal with you not showing at work?”
“I had other arrangements. We all have lives.”
“You won’t for long.”
“Is that a threat, because you know where you’re headed if you try?”
“Listen here, you think that’s going to make me lay off you @#$% no! I’m not afraid like you. Get your self up and be a man! You’re easy as anything to beat. I can kick your you know what any day!”
Justin stands up, “I do, but you’re out of control and I can’t deal with you!” His body trembles as her hand swipes across his face, “@#$%”, he utters under his breath. He bends down grabbing his backpack and journal to find another table. His face stings as he rubs it, trying to dull the pain. He turns around after a loud yelp comes from his mouth and a book drops to the ground, “@#$%”, he states to himself gritting his teeth. Nobody seems to care that his head is bleeding or he’s in immense pain.
He sits down at the table gently rubbing his head. He rests his head on his hands and cries softly. He slowly stands up knowing he has another class to go to. He makes a quick run to the nurse’s office. He holds a cold pack on the back of his head through class. He has a bump when Trace arrives.


“Trace, my stomach’s nauseous.”


“We’ll go get that bump checked out.”
Justin gets to go home after a quick emergency room check up. He is told to take it easy and not attend school for at least a day.

Mia sighs at Justin’s disappointed expression and the tears in his eyes. She embraces him, “It’ll be alright.”
She gently kisses his shaved head, “The curls will come back Things will get better! I promise.” She soothingly rubs his back, “Shhh……….I’m not going to let her hurt you anymore. I promise.” She sits with him on the couch. She gives him a pain reliever to ease his discomfort. “I’m going to go get you a blanket. I’ll be right back.” She returns with a blanket and wraps it around his body.
Eventually, he dozes off to sleep. She watches him closely, until he wakes. She has food ready for him, though he doesn’t have an appetite.
She assists him on his homework assignments. “Spelling is a tough subject.”
He nods his head, “Spelling is hard and reading. The words look like symbols.”


She turns the page and slowly reads to him. She stops when he gives her a look and explains to him what the word is. She makes him picture flashcards so he will begin to recognize the word correctly. She holds up the card, “Number two.” She runs through the cards with him, “Sound out the word Justin.”
“Ah- mar- ic-ah fights for freedom.”
“You almost have it, Justin. We’ll try again later. You’ve done enough school work.”
Mia has a special book she would like to read with Justin when he comes over. She wants a quiet activity because he is still resting from the injury.
Justin rests his head on the pillow tiredly and closes his blue eyes. His head is aching and tears are forming in his blue eyes. His face is swollen and he appears sicker than usual.
He enjoys listening to her as he rests on her couch. Justin isn’t well enough to be reading or doing homework. He drifts to sleep as she reads to him.

Justin is back to playing basketball by weekend. Mia is keeping him out of school for protection reasons and has been talking with the school about having Justin be home school, until they can make him be safe at school.
The violence is too much for Justin to handle on top of the loss of his parents. He has terror episodes as he call them, where he goes to corner and puts his hands over his hears, because he hears Marry’s voice in his head and wants it to stop.






Chp. 5


Justin peers through the window as the snow falls, making the ground white, dropping his basketball on the hard surface. He picks up his ball heading back to his bedroom. He places the ball on the dresser and sits on his bed. He grabs one of his books and begins reading it. He puts down the book frustrated, “This is hard.”
He begins reading again. He slows his reading something he hates to do, but makes greater progress with. The story’s content is appealing to Justin. He reads for an hour and then puts the book back on his shelf. He closes his eyes, resting his head on the pillow. Justin has been working since five a.m. on paying bills, getting the house organized and cleaned and doing his school work. He hasn’t eaten anything since last night. He can’t afford food and lives off what Mia gives him.
Trace stops by to check on him and finds him sound asleep sprawled out on his bed. He smiles warmly at his younger friend. He glances over at the basketball on the dresser, knowing Justin must be unhappy about not being able to play. He quietly leaves Justin’s room.

He wakes shortly after Mia arrives. The groggy young man sits up looking at Mia. He hears his stomach grumble. He glances at the clock.
“Justin it is okay! You needed your sleep.” She smiles reaching for his hand. “I want you to meet some people tomorrow.”
“What kind of people?”
“There is this couple that has a son around your age. They’re interested in helping you.”
His blue eyes wander the room, “I don’t know. I’m not into meeting new people.”
“They just want to visit with you. You can decide if you would or wouldn’t like to see them again.”
Justin gives in, “Okay.” He sighs adjusting his wrinkled blue shirt and bends over to put on his worn sneakers. He grabs his ball from the dresser and grabs his backpack to go with Mia to her home.


Justin sets the table then removes his journal from his backpack. He sinks into the leather chair and begins writing.
She plops down in a chair next to him, “What are you writing in there?”
He looks up from his journal into her sparkling green eyes, with a serious expression casting over his face, “Personal information.”


Mia would love to get to know Justin better, so she can further help him. He doesn’t say much about his family. She is afraid he’ll resist her if she pushes him to talk about events he’d rather block from his memory.



Justin writes for about two hours in his journal, longer than he usually writes in it.

November 13th


To day s been different! My minds mess with me. I don’t like days that are like this. I tried reading. The words are hard to say. Don’t think I’ll be better with this en time. I want life to be good! Mom and Dad I’d love back! Still blame me for it.
To day snow came. So, I can not play ball. B-ask-et ball s my favorite hoby. But, snow keeps me from it.”


Justin closes his blue eyes snuggling against the warm cushion behind him. He presses against the leather with his hands, for several minutes before they gently fall to the couch.


Mia comes over to him as he lay there so quietly. She lightly runs her hands through the little amounts of hair he has. She takes his journal moving it to the table. She massages his back as she hears him whimpering, “Shhh…………” She thinks about taking a peek at his journal, but decides not too. The last thing she would want is for him to be alone. More than anything, he needs a place where people care about him.
She doesn’t want to wake him but it would best if he went to sleep after he ate. “Justin, do you want to eat now?’
Justin slowly rises nodding his head.
“Are you alright, Justin?”
He shakes his head sleepily, “Hard day.” He brings the cup to his mouth taking a small sip, before putting it down to eat his food.
“I’m sorry Justin.”
He attempts to force a smile on his face, “It’s my fault!”
“Why do you say that?”
“My mom and dad would be here, if I didn’t ask to go out with them for something. I want to change my past, so I don’t hurt anymore! I didn’t even get to say goodbye, because I got seriously injured.”
“Don’t blame yourself, for this Justin! You had nothing to do with them dying. I’m going to tell you a story and it may or may not make you feel better about what’s going on in your like, okay?”
He follows her to the couch as she pulls out an old photo album and places it between the two of them!
“This is my son James in these pictures. James died when he was a toddler from an illness. I blamed myself for his passing, because I didn’t notice the signs of the illness. I had a lot of personal matters at the time. It took me a long time to realize that I had no control over what happened, because the illness quickly spread.”
“Who can I blame for this?”


“Nobody is to blame, Justin.”