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“So, the youngest of four…” says Theo, “and judging by the Taylor Swift bracelets on your arm, at least one preteen niece?”

Ben grins and holds his wrist up. “Yeah, Graciela. I took her to one of the concerts with a few of her friends and they made me these.”

“Tabitha would’ve killed to go to one,” Theo says. “My oldest niece. Molly just couldn’t swing it.” The two of them fall silent for a short time as they walk, and I get the sense that Ben does not wish to speak about his family.

“When was the last time you talked to them?” he finally asks.

“Uhhh…it’s been a little while,” Theo admits. “I called Molly a few days ago, when Annoth showed up, cause I was freaked out. But I haven’t talked to anyone else for a bit.”

“Here,” Ben says, “let’s do this right now, while we’re out.” He motions to a park bench and they both sit, but then a flare of anxiety shoots through Theo’s body.

“Do what?”

“Text your family, and your friends. Let them know that you’re alright and that you’re working through things. I told you I’d help with it.”

“Oh, right…” Theo pulls his telephone out and holds it tightly, but does not turn it on.

Coward,I whisper in his mind, simply for my own amusement, and because I do not like how much attention he is giving Ben.You are afraid they have forgotten you, that they will not reply, that they no longer care for you.

Shut the fuck up,he retorts silently.

“What’s wrong?” Ben asks.

“I just…I think that’s been the hardest part,” Theo sighs. “I’m close to my family, and my friends. I rely on them. I’m not one of those guys that’s afraid to talk about my feelings or whatever. I just…didn’t know how to talk to them about this, and it got away from me. What if…what if I still can’t do it?”

“Who said you have to talk to them about your feelings?”

“I guess…no one, but that’s what they’ll be expecting.”

“You don’t always have to do what people expect, you know,” Ben says lightly. “Sometimes, you can just give yourself whatyouneed, and everyone else can either fall in line or get fucked.” He rests his fingers gently on Theo’s hand, and a jolt of electricity runs through my host’s body as they both laugh.

I knew you wanted him,I sneer.Oh, poor Theo. Do you really think he might want you in return? Do you not see the way he looks at me? What could you possibly offer him that I cannot?

Shut up!Theo cries, and his hands start to tremble.

“Just do it,” he tells Ben, turning the telephone on and passing it over. Ben gives him a strange look, then taps the screen.

“Who’s up first?”

“Uh…that should probably be my mom.”

“Ok, I’m gonna write something and then have you check it over before I send it. Is that alright?” Ben’s voice is much gentler than it has been since we found him on the street the previous day. My own senses are somewhat limited when I am inhabiting another body, but I can see the way his eyes soften when he looks at Theo now, and a strange, aching pang runs through me. Theo seems to feel it too and puts a hand over his heart.

“Yeah, that’s fine,” he mumbles. I watch as Ben quickly types out a message, then passes the phone back.

Theo reads it aloud. “‘Hey Mom, I know you’ve been worried about me the last few weeks, and I’m sorry I dropped off the face of the planet. Everything with Ros and work has just been really hard to deal with, but I’m getting through it. Thanks for being (sort of) patient with me’.” He laughs and nods. “Yeah, that’s perfect, except I’m supposed to see them on the 15th, for Tabitha’s soccer game.” Ben takes the phone, makes several adjustments tothe message, then lets Theo send it off. They sit in silence for a few minutes, and I listen closely to the cadence of Theo’s heartbeat. It is quick, anxious, but also lighter somehow. Just as I am about to speak again, his telephone begins to ring. It appears to be his mother calling.

Annoth, could you…get out of my head please? I’d like some privacy,comes his tense voice. I do not reply, but simply pull myself out of him and appear sitting on the bench beside Ben. We are concealed by a small glade of trees, so no one nearby seems to have noticed my manifestation. Theo stands and walks away, then hesitates for a moment before answering the call.

“Why are you doing these things for him?” I ask Ben.

His reply is soft, but firm. “Because he’s a good person, and he doesn’t deserve this.”

“Does not deserve what?”

“Any of it.” Ben glances at me and I think he is sad, but I cannot understand why. “Nothing I can do about the girlfriend or the job, but…he doesn’t need to lose anyone else in his life, and he certainly doesn’t deserveyourbullshit.”

“And what benefit is there for you, helping a complete stranger this way? He threatened to turn you in to the authorities, but you have done far more than what was required by your deal. You purchased food and helped him contact loved ones and let him speak about his feelings with you.”