Page 110 of Waiting for Ru
“What’s Frozen?” Ru asked.
Jasim winced as March and Caleb turned shocked faces in Ru’s direction.
“You lucky bastard,” March muttered. “Never watch it. The songs just go on and on in your head.”
“Oh.” Ru smiled.
Jasim wanted Ru to tell them what had happened to him. He and Caleb had a lot in common. Jasim thought back to when Caleb had first been ‘delivered’ to him and what had subsequently happened and now, he seemed well adjusted, happy, married, with a child. Life went on. Life could be made better.
“Do you feel up to telling Ru about what you called your ‘tight spot’?” Jasim asked. “Because you and he have something in common.”
“Did you rescue him too?” Caleb whispered.
“No.” Jasim shook his head.
“Not directly,” Ru said. “But… Shall I tell you what happened to me first? It’s not a secret. It was in the papers. I was kidnapped when I was eight by my uncle and told my family was dead. I lived with my uncle and aunt in Ireland until a couple of months ago. I was forced to call them mother and father and I wasn’t allowed off the farm for twelve years. I never saw anyone other than my aunt and uncle, and a neighbour eventually. Then my uncle had an accident and had to go to hospital and my aunt was taken away too, and I…escaped. I found out my family was still alive and they’d been told I was dead.”
“Wow.” Caleb gulped. “So how did you meet Jasim?”
“At an auction in Ireland. I persuaded him to buy two horses that my uncle was selling. When I came back to England, I went to see the horses and Jasim offered me a job.”
“So are you two…?” Caleb looked between them.
Ru didn’t speak so Jasim had to. “Yes.”
“No one can know,” Ru blurted. “There’s danger if they do, so you can’t tell anyone.”
“Jasim’s aware that I know how to keep quiet,” Caleb said.
Jasim nodded.
“I see now why we have something in common.” Caleb patted Ru’s arm. “March and I were kidnapped by a paedophile when I was eleven and March was fourteen. March got away and I didn’t. Liam held me in an underground room for twelve years. Jasim rescued me.”
“Oh God.” Ru’s eyes were wide with shock. “I’m so sorry! I can’t imagine what you must have gone through. What happened to me is nothing in comparison. How are you still sane?”
“I had panic attacks for a few years, though they’ve stopped. I had to learn to live in the world that had moved on without me, and I saw a psychologist for a while. It just took time. I didn’t even know how to have conversations. The only person I’d talked for twelve years was Liam. That’s not so different to you. Do you sometimes not get what people are saying? There’s something that passes you by? Or you assume something and you’re wrong?”
Ru nodded. “I trust too easily, I think. I assumed everyone would be kind and decent and they’re not. It came as a shock.”
“Do you have family?” Caleb asked.
“Parents I don’t want to speak to, but a brother I love. Though he lives in Northumberland.”
“We should talk, I think, you and me.” Caleb smiled at him. “What’s your number and email address?”
Ru took out his phone. Moments later, their contact information was exchanged.
“It was never in the papers about me.” Caleb looked at Jasim. “The only person I ever told was March and he knew part of it anyway. I didn’t tell him to contact you. I would never have given you up. I swear.”
“I know.”
“Can we be friends?” Caleb whispered. “In some ways we already are far more than friends.”
“Do you think it’s possible?” Jasim asked.
“I know we have some…difficult history, but you’re the reason I’m alive. I’d like it if we could be friends.”
Jasim swallowed hard. “March doesn’t look too happy about that.”
