Diane Amos - A Long Walk Home

She took the box and looked down at the package for a long time.

“Aren’t you going to open it?”

Her gaze strayed across the room. “I saw you ditch this yesterday when you saw what I looked like. I figured you were disappointed.”

“I was a little surprised,” I said with a nervous laugh. “Well, make that a lot surprised.”

She rolled her eyes.

“And of course, you’ve changed…a lot.” Keep it up and she’ll be escaping out the window.

“You think I’m a freak.”

I winced at her choice of words. I exhaled a long breath. “No, you aren’t a freak, but I don’t know what to think,” I finally said.

“At least you’re honest,” she replied, her gaze riveted on me.

“We don’t have many Goth teens around here. Isn’t that what you are? A Goth?”

“I’m just me, that’s all.”

“I understand that you want to express yourself, and that’s fine. I’ve gotten over my initial surprise, and I hope you’ve forgiven me for raising my hand at you.”

“No big deal.”

“But to me it’s a very big deal.”

I waited a moment for her reaction.

Another shrug.

“I didn’t give you this yesterday because I realized I should have listened to Tony and waited for you to pick out your own gift.”

Summer frowned at the mention of his name but kept her thoughts to herself. She slid the ribbon over the rounded edges of the wrapped velvet box, slowly removed the wrapping, folded the paper, and tucked it into her plastic bag along with the ribbon and the bow. She flipped the box open and stared down at the gold charm bracelet.

“I know this is a sad time for you, but I figured there was no reason why we couldn’t make some special memories while you were here.” I’d hoped she’d look back at our time together in a good way. I’d planned to buy her other charms over the years.

Her gaze locked with mine.

“You probably think the gift is foolish, and I don’t blame you.” I was rambling and couldn’t seem to stop. “As I said earlier, exchange it for something you like.”

She lifted and dropped her shoulders and studied the bracelet.

Summer raised doubt-filled eyes.

“The seagull charm was supposed to remind you of the great time we had together when you were eight.”

“I already figured that.” She shrugged and glanced at the bracelet again. “Can you help me put it on?”

I was pleased and discovered a moment later that it didn’t look nearly as out of place as I’d expected, dangling beneath the thick leather band around her wrist.

She jiggled her wrist and watched the charm sway back and forth, her eyes sparkling with joy.

“It looks really pretty on you,” I said.

“No shit, it’s the prettiest thing I’ve ever owned.”

I sensed her enthusiasm and a growing bond between us.

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