Page 11 of As the Years Pass

“I won’t be here long,” he finally says.

“Oh—”

I don’t tell him that’s what they all say, but it’s what pops into my head.

All the kids that come through here are certain they won’t be here for long, yet we have two kids that have been here longer than a year already.

“Well, you can use whatever space you need while you are,” I add. “And if you need anything, just let me know. I don’t mind sharing.”

He stays nothing, just keeps his gaze moving around the room slowly like he’s never seen a bedroom before.

“I’ll leave you alone to—”

“No,” he says quickly, his eyes widening. “Can you… stay?”

“Oh, uh… sure. Yeah.” I sit on my bed, looking around my room too, for something to do. There’s something about Adam that has me feeling weird.

Kids who come through here are always a little awkward, of course. They’re dealing with awful things, being ripped awayfrom their families, even if it’s for their own good. But there is a different kind of sadness coming off Adam, and my heart hurts.

“Do you like video games?” I ask.

His gaze goes to the TV that’s mounted to the wall, then to the small shelf beneath it that’s holding the Xbox.

“I only have an Xbox in here but Henry has a Playstation in his and Mark’s room.”

“Xbox is cool,” he says, putting his bag down before walking across the room and sitting on the floor. I get up to grab the controllers and remote. I get the TV on and start up the console, then sit beside him on the floor. I hand him a controller and wait for the system to boot up.

“What do you like to play?”

He’s quiet for a moment, chewing on the inside of his cheek.

“Just… nothing with cars,” he says in a shaky voice.

“Okay, cool. I can do that.” I look through the games I have. “Oh, this one is awesome.”

He looks up at the TV, a curious look on his face.

“I know it looks weird,” I say. “But Castle Crashers is one of the best games I’ve ever played.”

“Okay,” he says. “I’ll try it.”

We start the game, each picking our character. I start a new one, so we can be on even ground. I pick the green guy while he picks a blue one. We’re playing for about twenty minutes when he cracks a smile, and my heart nearly jumps out of my chest.

At one point, he laughs, and I have to take a deep breath to steady myself.

I’ve never had such a physical reaction to someone before, and I don’t really know how to handle it. Especially because we’re going to be sharing a room.

My mother comes in and tells us it’s dinner time, and I ask if she can bring it up to us. She agrees. Some of the other kidscome home and pop their heads in to say hi and see what we’re doing.

Adam and I stay up until nearly twelve am playing the game, until he finally says he’s tired and wants to go to bed. I show him to the bathroom so he can shower, and when he comes into the room I’m already changed and in bed.

He climbs to his bunk, the room dark and silent.

Until he says, “Thank you.”

It’s the most heartfelt thank you I’ve heard in all my life.

Chapter Four