Lost (3)

Daven

As I dry my tears, I decide to look through the window. I stroke the glass as I watch leaves fall to the ground, knowing fall would come soon. Accompanied by school.

School. I feel the panic rising from my stomach, through my throat, into my mouth. I bite my pillow and scream into it. School. Truck in school parking lot. Truck hitting me to the ground. Me not being able to speak. loud sirens, worried voices, cries, flashing red lights. Then it was all a blur of white. And I was gone, when I woke again, a hundred or so machines were attached to me, becoming my chains. The room my cell. The doctors, my guard. The hospital, the prison. Everybody telling me nonsense about being fine.

I look outside the window again, into the other yard. A boy, maybe my age, sits on a tree swing and swings. He's alone. All alone, like I was.

I can't let him be.

I run out of my room, and into the hallway.
"Um, Mom? Where's the backyard?" The lady, Mom, smiles and hugs me.
"Go out that door, Nilani. It'll do you good."
"Okay." I turn towards the backdoor.
"Nilani, my name's not Mom. That's what you call the woman who takes care of you. You call the man who takes care of you Dad. Okay?" Mom, Dad. I knew this. How did I not remember this before? I run to hug her.
"Okay, Mom." I say softly. She smiles, and I run out the back door.

I climb over the fence. Don't know how I know how to. Weird.
"Daven?" Huh? What? Who said that?  Probably me, again. The boy turns and smiles. He runs to me and hugs me. I didn't know boys hugged people.
"Nilani, you're home." He knows my name!
"Are you okay? Do even remember who I am?" He hugs me tighter. Do I? No. He just looks so sad.
"No. I'm sorry. I think your name is Daven." He looks down at me.