Free Beginnings by J.M. Sevilla

smile, and I glowed back at him.
    We could finally touch.

 
     
     
    Chapter 7
     
     
    “Annie, why does everyone keep staring at you?” I didn’t look at him as I headed to class. “Are you going to tell me what's going on?”
    It's nothing just ignore it , I scribbled in my notebook.
    Of course Adam couldn't let it go. By the end of school he was fuming.
    “Tell me what's going on right now Annie!”
    I cringed at the level of anger in his voice. I pulled my ear to let him know to hold on a minute. A group of girls passed. One of them looked at me before turning to the others and saying something that led them all into a fit of laughter.
    Jeremy strolled up next to me, “You ready?”
    I nodded my head yes and we started walking to his car.
    “For crying out loud Annie, you're really pissing me off! Do not get in his car. We need to talk. Now!”
    I'd never seen Adam this angry before.
    I got into the passenger seat and buckled in.
    “I thought we could go to a park bench and talk,” Jeremy said, as he started the engine.
    “Works for me.”
    “Fine, ignore me! I am beyond mad at you right now!”
    I didn't look back. I could feel how angry he was. I had no desire to see it.
    The drive was short and we went directly to the picnic tables under the trees. We sat across from each other. Adam was pacing back and forth behind Jeremy.
    “Are you in the mood to tell me what happened, or would you rather we did something else?”
    I had given this a lot of thought last night, and I knew we needed Jeremy's help if we were going to find answers.
    “I'm ready.”
    “Okay, so who's Adam?”
    I held my breath, waiting for the explosion.
    “How the hell does this guy know my name!” If I'd thought Adam was furious before, this was beyond that. I hoped I wasn’t making a mistake.
    “Please keep an open mind, you are the first person I've ever shared our story to.” I took a deep breath, “I met Adam when I was eight years old. We became instant best friends. He was everything I needed after my parents death. He taught me to be a kid again, to let loose and enjoy life. He made me feel safe and loved, which I desperately needed.”
    “Annie, please, don’t do this,” the anguish in Adam's voice killed me, but I continued. “We became inseparable. Adam would think of our adventures and I would see them through. I was crazy about him. Anything he asked of me I would gladly do it. For the past eight years there hasn't been a moment we weren't together. Although I can't touch him, I can feel him. He feels a part of me, and I him.” I looked past Jeremy and straight into Adam's eyes.
    “I love him.” I stopped to shake my head, “No, it's more than love, so much more.”
    Adam just stared back at me not moving.
    “What do you mean you can't touch him?” Jeremy's voice sounded disturbed and his face was covered in confusion.
    “Well, this is the part where you need to keep an open mind. Nobody but me can see him. Even though he can move around, he can't touch or feel anything.” I put my fidgeting hands on my lap, “So that’s who Adam is.”
    Jeremy just stared at me wide-eyed, so I continued. “Last Monday...” I looked down at my hands. Why was I so nervous for Adam to know what happened? “Last Monday, Adam was in front of the class when he dropped to his knees in pain, calling out my name. I’ve never been so scared in my life. I couldn't get to him fast enough, and by the time I reached him he was gone. That’s why I was screaming his name, I was terrified. One minute he was in front of me writhing in pain and the next he was gone. Words can't describe my desperation to find him. He matters more to me than anybody. I had to find him, but he was gone. For eight agonizingly long days he was gone. I've never felt so lost. Without him I'm not me. I'm not whole.” By the the time I was done Adam was sitting next to Jeremy with his head in his hands.
    “What happened to him?”
    “We don't know, that's