Page 44 of Mercury Rising

Eddie shook his head.

“Want to talk about it?” Mercury continued.

“I don’t want this place to close,” Eddie said. Another sob escaped. “What will happen to me?”

“Even if we don’t manage to save it, there’ll still be events. The charity isn’t closing.”

Eddie slumped in his chair. “It’s not the same. I can come here whenever I like. Mum’s carers don’t turn up whenever I need them.”

Mercury hadn’t thought about Eddie’s home life. The responsibilities he held were such a lot for a young man like him.

“I promise you, we’ll do our best.”

“Yeah right. You’ll finish your community service and fuck off with your rich mates. You won’t give a damn about us.”

Mercury recoiled. “Is that really what you think, or are you lashing out?”

Eddie bowed his head. His mouth pursed shut.

“If those words are anger, that’s fine with me. I can take it. If you believe them, you are very much mistaken. I might not have been here very long but I can see for myself how special Bodhi House and everyone attached to it are. I will not turn my back on you, Eddie. I promise you.”

Eddie raised his head. “Do you really mean it? My dad said the same thing when Mum got diagnosed. He fucked off in no time.”

“I know that feeling,” Mercury said. “My dad was handy with his fists. Not on me. On my mum. In the end, we ran away.”

“Madeline Morrison ran away from someone?”

Mercury laughed. “She did. Don’t worry, I’m not giving away her secrets. It’s all in her autobiography.”

“My mum’s reading it,” Eddie said. “When she heard you were here, she got it out of the library. When she’s not too tired, obviously.”

Mercury nodded. “How’s she doing at the moment?”

Finally, Eddie’s face lit up.

“She’s having a good spell,” he said. “It’s my birthday next week. We’re going to have takeaway and movies. I get to choose everything.”

“Sounds exciting, although I dread to think what you’ll put your poor mother through.”

Eddie grinned. “She pretends to like Marvel films.”

They sat in silence for a minute while Eddie got himself together.

“Do you want to go inside?” Mercury asked.

“I’m sorry for crying,” Eddie replied.

Mercury stared at him. Eddie’s vulnerability broke his heart.

“There’s nothing wrong with crying, you know,” Mercury said. “I cry all the time. Bottling things up is where the trouble is. You don’t have to worry about anything in front of me. I did wonder something, though.”

Eddie frowned. “What’s that?”

“Will you help me? Get the others to be part of this. They listen to you more than anyone.”

“More than Nick?”

“Well, I’m not sure about that. He’s pretty loud.”