Recovered Love

We had just moved to the small town of Westin. We moved a lot due to my father's work. No place was ever to be called home for very long. My dad starts unloading the car while the movers unload the truck.

Mom: You're going to love Westin sweetie.

I scrunch up my face and shake my hear no. She just laughs as she grabs my hand and we go inside the new house. She shows me to my room. My eyes light up. The bed was shaped like a carriage.

Mom: Does the princess like it?

Me: Yes!

I run over and hug her. She walks me over to the window and point to the backyard. There was a tree house. I gasped.

Me: For me?!

My mom smiles and nods at me. I stuff some toys in a backpack and rush downstairs out the back door. I look up and start climbing. I never had a treehouse before. Once inside, I start unpacking my backpack. I start setting up my toys and plushies. I hear sobbing. I look around when I scream. My mother rushes out calling to me. The little boy raises a finger to his lips and shakes his head no.

Me: I-I'm ok mom! Just a bug!

Mom: Don't scare me like that sweetheart.

Me: Sorry mom!

I hear the back door close. I gather my toys up and move them into a corner. No one gets my toys.

Me: Why are you in my treehouse?

Boy: This is mine.

Me: Nah-uh. This is in our yard which makes it ours and my mommy gave it to me which makes it mine.

Boy: Shut up stupid.

Me: You're stupid! I'm telling my mom.

Boy: Wait! Please don't. Please.

Me: Why not?

Boy: Just-- Please don't.

I look closer. I start crawling closer. There was a dark mark on his arm. I poke it and he pulls pack in pain. He glares at me.

Me: What's that?

Boy: Nothing!

Me: Does it hurt?

Boy: A little.

I grab my bag and start digging through it. I always keep my doctor tools handy. I pull out my hammer and hit the dark mark. He pulls back in pain again. I pull out a bandage and place it over it and give it a kiss.

Me: There! All better.

Boy: You did nothing.

Me: Doctor Gabby only saves lives.

He takes the bandage off and leaves the treehouse. Before he climbs down, he stops and looks at me.

Boy: You'd make a terrible doctor.

Me: I wouldn't want to be your doctor anyways. None of my patients will be doody-heads!

I stick my tongue out at him blowing a raspberry as he climbs down. I look to see him cutting through a few yards before entering a back door. So, he lives there. I go back to placing my toys and plushies up. I had a feeling this wasn't going to be the last time. It starts getting late and my mother calls me in for dinner. During dinner I remembered that mark, so I ask my parents about it.

Me: Dad what's a dark part on the skin?

Dad: Depends on the situation sweetheart. I need a little more information.

Me: It's like black, red, and purple. Hurts a little to touch.

Mom: It sounds like a bruise. Honey, do you have a bruise?

Me: No.

Dad: Where is this coming from?

Me: I--.

I don't want to tell them about the boy. I make up my first lie ever to my parents.

Me: I saw it in a book.

Dad: Phew. Thought you got hurt or someone hurt you.

Me: Is that how you get bruises? Someone hurts you?

Mom: Sometimes. But you could also hit something really hard, and it leaves a bruise.

So, he was either hurt or hurt himself really bad. I finish dinner ask if I could have a few more minutes in my treehouse. They nod so I ran to the kitchen throwing some snacks in my backpack. I climb back up and he wasn't there. I pull out a crayon and a piece of paper. I write on the paper "My name is Gabriella. This is for you."

Me: Hopefully he comes back.

I set the note down along with the snacks and head back inside. I get back to my room and stare out my window to see him shoot across my backyard into the treehouse. I hear a voice screaming for him. Whoever it was sounded mad. I watched until my mom came in the room and tucked me into bed. I tried falling asleep, but it wasn't happening. I grab a blanket and sneak downstairs. Just as I'm about to open the door, I'm stopped.

Dad: Where are you going young lady?

Me: I left my favorite stuffed animal in the tree.

Dad: I'll get it.

Me: No!

My dad looks at me. He raises an eyebrow looking at me.

Me: You don't know which one it is dad.

Dad: Ok, well hurry up. You need sleep. You start at your new school in the morning.

I nod and rush outside. I throw the blanket over my shoulder and climb up the tree. I find him in the treehouse huddled in the corner shaking. I hold the blanket out to him.

Me: Here.

He just looks at me. I see the food has been eaten. He turns away.

Me: You're going to freeze. Take it.

Boy: No.

I throw it at him. I sit there with my arms crossed. My dad calls out to me.

Dad: Gabriella! Bed time young lady!

Me: Coming dad! I have to go.

I grab a plushie and start to leave. I look back at him one more time.

Boy: Jin.

Me: Huh?

Boy: My name is Jinwoo Park.

Me: Jinny.

Jin: Eww. Don't call me that.

I let out a soft laugh. As I start climbing out, I whisper to him.

Me: Goodnight Jin.

I climb down and my dad walks me back inside. I go upstairs and finally fall asleep. I had just made my first friend in Westin.