Unable to bear the thought of it all, especially in this beautiful place, I buried myself in the branches of a tree and pressed my cheek against the rough bark as I hugged the trunk and sobbed. Life seemed so unfair to me. Why was I not wanted? How could my Mama leave me with the Di Vaio family? How did she not know how horrible they were?
“Are you okay?” A boy’s voice made my eyes snap open wide as I instantly swallowed my sobs, frozen in fear. “Sorry,” he said, and as I slowly turned to face him, he lifted his hands to show no harm, his wet t-shirt dangling from his fingers. “You just sound really sad.”
“I’m—” I tried to catch my breath. “I’m okay.”
He nodded but made no move toward me. He just took a seat on a rock in front of me. I took two small steps to the side, away from the tree branches. He looked to be a few years older than I was. He had dark hair that matched his dark eyes. They were so intense it nearly made my tongue suck back into my throat when I tried to swallow.
“How did you hurt your face?” He spoke quietly, the way you would to a puppy.
I quickly covered my bruises with my hands and blushed in embarrassment. He came up on me so quickly I didn’t have time to react.
“I fell,” I lied lamely, looking into those dark eyes.
“Must have hurt.” His voice stayed soft.
“I fall a lot,” I admitted for some reason. “I’m used to it.”
His head tilted to the side as he studied me.
“It’s not a big deal.” I tried to recover, not wanting pity from a stranger, let alone a boy.
“Is that why you’re crying?”
“No.” I sniffed and dried my cheeks. “I wish.” My voice ran away from me.
He turned his back to me as he reached for a new shirt in his bag.
“Are you scared of something?” I watched as he tugged the t-shirt over his head. He didn’t seem old enough, but I saw he had a tattoo on his shoulder blade. It was a gold crown with a black bird below it. I could see it against his tanned skin, but then in a flash it was gone under his shirt.
I blinked when he turned back to face me and tried to remember what he had just asked. He took pity and asked again.
“I think I was born scared.”
He studied my face again then nodded, almost like he understood my comment.
“You want to swim?”
I shook my head. I took another small step to test my shaky legs. “I should get back.” I tried hard for a smile, but my lips just made a funny twitch.
“Where do you live?”
“For now, I live at the Di Vaio house.” I saw that he flinched at where I lived.
He stepped forward and offered me a hand. He was very formal. “I’m Elio.”
“Sienna.” I hesitated but slipped my hand into his. “Thanks for talking to me.”
“I’m always here.” His eyes shifted over my shoulder, and I turned to see what had caught his attention. Someone was coming toward us. My world dipped, and I fought to stay standing.
“I gotta go,” I quickly muttered and raced away from him, taking a curved path I hoped would get me back to the house. I knew my beating would come and that it would be the worst one I’d ever gotten, but I sure didn’t want him to see me get it.
I stayed away from the swimming pond for three months, but I thought about it every day. Most of us at the house were homeschooled by Julie, which made it even harder to find time to disappear. When the opportunity came one day, I slipped away and found my way back. Elio wasn’t there, but I enjoyed just sitting and looking at the water. I went as often as I could after that, always being sure I wouldn’t get caught.
I leaned against the tree and pulled out the little notebook Cara gave me the other day. One of the movies the older kids were watching said it was good to have a journal to help control your thoughts. I liked that idea. I took pride in how well I could spell. I believed it was from all the late-night reading I did, desperately longing for an escape. My favorites were The Lord of The Rings and Harry Potter. Both were about surviving and making it through to the other side.
I scribbled the date in the top left corner and started to pour the earliest memories I had on the small white pages, not wanting to forget them. Faint images broke through the surface of my brain, and I remembered the smell of something old. My mother wore a green jacket, and I also remembered being held in her arms, and the comfort of that fleeting memory sent a tear down my cheek. More words came, and five pages later I closed the book and looked back in the direction of the house. I held the notebook to my chest, suddenly nervous of what could happen if they ever found my private thoughts. I used the Ziplock bag that I’d brought my lunch in and slid the notebook inside and hid it well under a rock. I felt a lot better about leaving it there. I raced back home, feeling lighter than I had in a very long time.
A few times, Elio came. He never stayed very long, but he would always talk for a few minutes before he left. Other times, I might find a bit of food waiting for me in our spot with a note. The first one said Thought you might like to try my mama’s tortellini. -E
Even cold, it was the best thing I’d ever tasted. I only could handle a few bites, but oh how I loved it. I tucked his note inside my notebook and wrote about his kindness toward me. Carefully removing a small piece of a page from the back of the notebook, I responded with It was great. Tell your mama thank you. -S
I smiled when I wrote the “S,” mimicking his signoff. I tucked it next to the paper bowl the pasta was in and leaned back, enjoying the comfort of a full tummy and the knowledge that I had a friend.
Even though I barely knew the boy, something drew me here, and I knew he was a major part of it. It was a welcome, safe place for me. Elio never made me uncomfortable or said hurtful things. He just occasionally left me bits of things to eat, and sometimes left notes. He always checked to make sure I was okay. That was the way it went for two years, just little moments together, but treasured ones. It allowed me little glimpses of what a real friend was like. Cara was wonderful to me, but Elio was different.
“Right there.” Elio pointed as he flipped his shaggy hair out of his face to show me where the frog had just laid her eggs.
“Where?” I leaned in and lost my balance, and the first thing that raced through me was that my good outfit was going to get wet, and how was I going to explain it.
“Whoa!” Elio grabbed my hand and pulled me back to steady me. “You good?”
“Yes, thanks.” I smiled slightly, beyond thankful he saved me from a lashing, but what really surprised me was I didn’t flinch when he grabbed me. I felt no fear with him.
“Right there, there it is.” He went back to our quest.
Weeks later, I returned to the pond with a fresh new journal in hand, proud that I had managed to save up for it without anyone noticing. As I always did, I checked our secret spot and saw a note sitting next to a plastic-wrapped chocolate chip cookie.
Something sweet? I have to go away for a few days, but I will be back Sunday. Meet me here at 1 p.m.? -E
I tucked his note away safely with the others and wrote a reply.
The cookie was very good. Thanks. I will try! -S
I took my place under the tree and let the summer sun warm my face as I thought about what I wanted to write today. Elio’s face worked its way inside my head, and I found myself growing warm on the inside. Before I knew it, I was scribbling my thoughts out on the page.