Page 103 of Diluted Truths

He sighed. “I never really cared either way. Gender wasn’t an issue, it was the person for me.”

I smiled at my brother. “I know. I overheard you one night talking to Kai when we were little.”

He inclined his head, urging me to continue.

“You were maybe ten I think. You asked him why everyone asked if you liked any girls in your class because you had the biggest crush on your best friend James,” I responded, reminiscing on the memories.

He smiled. “Oh god, I forgot about that,” he chuckled. “Remember what Kai said?” I shook my head. “He said, and I quote, ‘You can’t likeJames because if you got married he would be James James and that’s a stupid name.’”

I barked out a laugh. “That’s such a Kai answer.”

“How is he doing?” Nate asked.

“Kai?” I clarified. Nate nodded. “He seems… okay? I don’t really know. None of us have really been the same since you passed. It’s hard to be happy with you gone.”

He looked down almost shamefully. “He blames himself too, you know? For the accident.”

“Why?” I asked confused.

“That night, he called. Something happened at home and was nervous for you and Theo. Usually I would have just let you come home later, no worries. He wanted me to go get you to make sure you were okay. That’s why I was out driving.”

I paused for a moment in shock. “I didn’t know that.” But I must have for this Nate to know and tell. This was just a dream. I must have heard it before.

“Don’t think too hard about it, Jack. Trust me. It’s easier that way.”

I began to respond when we were interrupted with the door opening behind us. We both stood quickly. “Can we leave?” I asked Nate.

“If you want.”

I slowly began to leave. Maybe if I followed the path that brought me here in previous dreams, I could find a way to wake myself up. It didn’t make a lot of sense, but I was standing next to my dead brother, so I chose to follow Nate’s advice and not think too hard about it.

Speaking of, I turned to tell him my plan when I saw that I was alone. Hopefully I would dream of him again. I slowly made my way out and across the field. It was early morning. The ground was covered in dew. It looked like it would be a beautiful day.

As I approached the woods, I turned to look at the cabin one more time. I had no idea what Griffin was doing to me, but I was grateful for the time with Nate. Even if it wasn’t real.

Missing for Twelve Hours

“Jack!” I looked up from my seat on the ground a few feet in front of the door to see Nate standing in the open doorway. “Get in here.”

I stood and ran, colliding with him. “Nate! You need to help me,” I began, finally crying. “Griffin, h-he broke into my house. I think he drugged me. I-I don’t know what to do.”

Nate held me for a moment while I sobbed in his arms. “I know, Jack. I’m so sorry. It’s going to be okay. I promise.”

I nodded, still hugging him as tight as possible. “I’m scared.”

“So am I.”

I looked up at my brother. He was my favorite person. Oliver was my best friend, Will was the love of my life, Theo was my confidant, Fai was my supporter, but Nate was my favorite person. I wished so badly that it was him I was hugging.

“You’re not real,” I whispered.

“That’s rude,” he responded with a smirk. “I think I’m very real. But to each their own.”

I laughed at him. “You’re just a part of my brain, helping me make sense of everything. It’s probably the drugs.”

“Probably,” he agreed. “Can we go inside now?”

I nodded and followed him into the cabin. It was oddly familiar, but I hadn’t been in here before. There was a couch in one corner facing a fireplace and a small table and chairs in the other.