Lucas Stories: Never Alone (July 2019)

The boy approached the girl's house and knocked. It seemed like forever before the door finally opened. The girl had opened it, and stared at the boy, almost in fear. She sniffed a little, as if she was either sick or had been crying.
     "What's wrong?" the boy asked her.
     The girl was silent for a moment before she sighed. "My grandmother...she's really, really sick." She glanced nervously behind her, stepped out of the house, and closed the door behind her. "Let's go to the playground. I need to escape for a little bit."
     The boy led her to where they first met and sat on a swing. The girl sat on the swing next to him and they sat still, not actually doing anything. Eventually, the boy spoke up. "They're not coming back, are they?" he asked quietly.
     The girl thought for a moment and shrugged. "They will. Hopefully. All we can do is wait, and hope."
     The boy slowly nodded. "You're right." But deep down inside, he knew they weren't coming back. He'd always known. He just didn't want the girl to feel exactly how he felt now.
     "Even if they're really gone," the girl added, "we'll never be alone. We have each other." She paused for a moment. "Sorry for missing your birthday."
     The boy smiled. "We'll just have to make up for it by making your birthday twice as awesome."