Page 53 of Through You
“I need to take my mind off things. Can I just stay here a little while?”
He nods, lets out a sigh, and rubs his face with his hand. He doesn’t look well—something is up. Turning my attention to the problems of others always helps me forget about my own issues.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes.” He grimaces.
“You don’t look like you are.”
I notice he still has his shoes on.
“Are you going somewhere?” He shakes his head, but the look on his face tells a different story. “Do you want to go somewhere?”
He doesn’t answer. I think back to how Raquel and her friends left earlier this afternoon and how sad Ares looked when that happened. It’s obvious that his grandfather’s condition has been distressing to him. I sense he needs to unload how he feels, needs someone to lean on. I could be that support, but he already has someone who is better suited for the job.
“You should go see her.”
Ares looks up. He knows I’m talking about Raquel.
“I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“She’s angry with me.”
I sigh. “Did you tell her what happened to your grandfather?”
He shakes his head for a second time. “Why not?”
“I don’t want her to see me like this.”
“Like this, how? Like a human being with real feelings, who is sad about his grandfather?”
“I don’t want to seem weak.”
This bothers me. “For heaven’s sake. Why do you think that loving someone and leaning on them is a sign of weakness?”
“Because it is.”
“No, Ares, it is not,” I respond, pressing my lips together.
“You consider opening your heart to someone a weakness? It’s the opposite—it’s the most courageous thing a person can do.”
“Ah, don’t start with the lectures. You’re as bad as Apolo.”
“You idiot, I’m just trying to get you to see that being in love is not a weakness.”
Ares raises his voice. “Yes, it is. You and I know that better than anyone.”
He’s referring to his mother.
“You can’t use what happened as a shield and hide behind it all your life,” I tell him.
“I don’t want to be like him!”
“You’re not like him!” I reply and get up. “You are not like your father. And I’m completely certain that Raquel is nothing like your mother.”
He snorts angrily. “How can you be so sure?”
