Show Me Tomorrow

Chapter 5

Show Me Tomorrow

Elian

I don’t know but I feel like I’m taking things too far. I should have just walked away after giving my unsolicited advice. He didn't ask for my help, he probably doesn't even need it. I have no reason to be here. He may be deaf but for fuck sake he isn't Martin! I don’t have to do this. I don’t have to be here.

Repeating this over and over in my mind hasn't worked so far. I mean, I just ran a million miles in the middle of the night just so a random guy can breathe? What the fuck does that even mean??? Why can't I just fucking go back? All it would take is a simple apology and I can go back to my heist or the planning of said heist at least.

I drag my attention away from my troubled thoughts back to the person causing my troubled thoughts.

'There is nothing here,' Aiden signs looking around in confusion.

'There is,' I respond gesturing to the playground.

He frowns, cocking his head to the side, 'A playground? I don't understand.'

'Sometimes when my brother feels…down he likes to go to our local park and play for hours and hours jumping down all the slides and playing with the dogs at the park. He always feels better afterwards.'

'How old is your brother?'

'Eight.'

'I see.'

I laugh at his expression, 'I know you think this is ridiculous but trust me it isnt. Just give it a try, don't think about anything just...breathe.'

He bites his bottom lips as his pale cheeks stain pink.

'What is it?' I ask.

'What should I do? I don't know how to play this…'

I burst out laughing, 'didn’t you play as a kid?'

His face falls, 'no.'

I stare at him silently waiting for him to burst out laughing and confess it's a joke but his hands remain still, his expression doesn’t waver.

'You’re serious?'

He nods.

Well fuck.

I stand up, reaching my hand out to him. He gently swats it away, standing up himself.

'How old are you?' I ask trying to dispel the awkward atmosphere. '18? 19?'

'26'

I stare at him, mouth agape. No fucking way! 'You’re 26 years old?'

'Yes.'

'2 and 6' I sign slowly in case he doesn't understand, '26?'

He rolls his eyes, 'yes.'

I gawk at him; he looks so young with his oval shaped face and huge brown eyes. I thought he was just a tall teenager, 'you don't look your age.'

‘I know. I don't like it but I can't help it.'

'Everyone wants to look younger than they are though.'

'I do not.'

We walk side by side until we're standing in front of a swing, 'sit.' I tell him.

He hesitates as he gently moves the swing back and forth it creaks in response, 'I am too old for this'

'Well you don’t look it.'

His glares at me pursing his small lips, 'I know how to fight you know.'

I burst out laughing, 'oh? Me too! Maybe you can show me a few moves?" I joke, eying him from head to toe while I flex my muscles.

He cheeks redden as he looks away shyly. I sigh, how can this man be 26? He so…not 26.

'Sit.' I say again pointing at the swing.

'Will it break?'

'Yes, that's the point of it.'

His eyes widen with shock, 'it is?'

'No Aiden it's not, now sit.'

He sighs, 'you're not nice.' he walks towards the swing, lowering himself slowly. I grip the chains tightly, keeping it in place.

It takes a while for him to find his balance, and then I apply some gentle pressure but the swing doesn’t budge. I tap his shoulder, 'raise your feet.'

He looks at me like I've grown two heads, 'but if I raise my feet, I'll fall!'

'I won't let you.'

He delays a while before slowly lifting his feet off the ground. I apply gentle pressure again. This time it moves without resistance. The momentum throws off his balance but I'm quick to support him. I place a hand on his back and another on the swing starting a gentle rocking motion. When he finally gets it, I apply more force.

He gasps out loud gripping the chains tightly till his knuckles turn white, his breathing becoming labored. I chuckle, adding even more force. He nearly topples off the swing. I bite my tongue to keep from laughing. Just because he can’t hear me laughing doesn’t mean he can’t see me laughing.

I place a hand on his shoulder, 'You need to relax, just go with the flow don’t fight it.'

He nods, relaxing his tense shoulders. Things move more smoothly, his fingers loosen up as his breaths become even. After a few moments I stop.

He whines in protest, 'why did you stop?'

'I want to teach how to do it yourself.'

His face falls, 'ok.'

'Don’t worry, it will still be fun.'

I walk over to the other swing. 'This is how you do it' I sign, showing him a demonstration of creating momentum with your legs. He gives it a try.

'No, push harder, you won't fall I promise.'

He does and he gets it. I give him a smile, 'good job. Think you can handle it yourself?'

'Honestly I’d rather not.'

'Why?'

'This method is…'

'Is what?'

'Not as nice as the first.'

I stare at him unsure of my next response.

His face turns beet red, 'I'm sorry' he signs, hoping off the swing and running off.

"Wait!" I yell.

He’s fucking deaf you moron go after him.

I chase after him, catching up to him in a few steps. 'There is no need to apologize,' I tell him, 'we can do it how you like.'

He bites his bottom lip, 'Really?'

'Yes, I think it's more fun that way too.'

He breaks into a wide grin, 'thank you.'

I lead him back to swing and we continue our previous actions taking turns on the swing. It's quiet and peaceful. For a while I don't let myself think of anything. Not my parents or rent money or Cecelia. I clear my mind completely. I let the fresh midnight breeze sweep all of my thoughts away until the only thing I hear is the creak of the chains and Aiden's steady breaths.

This is nice. I should breathe more often.

'We should go.' Aiden tells me after a while.

'How long has it been?'

'Three hours.'

'Three hours!?'

'Yes.'

'But I wanted to show you the other… I mean there are other stuff here not just the swings'

His face lights up, ' then show me tomorrow?’

I look into his wide hopeful eyes and for the life of me I can’t bring myself to say no, ‘I’ll bring you tomorrow.’

what the fuck have I gotten myself into!?