Daylight invaded the small space of Jasper's room, the sun harshly cleansing the sleep from Jasper's face. He groaned, still exhausted from yesterday night's 'adventures'. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, Jasper rolled lazily out of bed and yanked the blinds closed. He looked at his clock and sighed aloud.
"Well, guess I outta get up." Jasper muttered to himself. He quickly got ready and headed into the hall.
The delightful smell of sizzling bacon filled his senses as he entered the kitchen. Jasper's mother, a small, older woman who liked to sing as she cooked, was preparing breakfast. She hummed a song Jasper couldn't recognize as he approached the table, taking a seat next to his father. There was a feeling of unease coming from his parents; Jasper wondered if they had found out about his late night trip with his friends. His mother placed a paper plate full of bacon and eggs in front of him and his father. Jasper picked up his fork and began eating.
"Jasper, sweetie," His mother began. " I think it's time we talked to you about something..."
Jasper froze, shuffling uncomfortably. It was certain, they knew, and they were about to ground him.
"What is it mom?" Jasper asked carefully.
His mother handed him an old frame. In it was two smiling boys around the age of nine, dressed in pastel tuxes holding a big stuffed bunny. It took him a moment to recognize them both. Suddenly his eyes went wide with realization and he started to wish this was about him getting grounded.
"We think it's time we put Oliver's photo in the hallway. Your Mother and I want to celebrate his life just like we do family." His father said sternly. He always had an aggressive nip to his voice.
Jaspers head darted up from his plate, now facing his father. They couldn't be serious right now. Oli had been his best friend since they were born, all the way up to his disappearance when Jasper was ten. Oli had been twelve. How could they even consider this?
"But, we only put pictures of our dead up in the hall. They never found Oli, he could still be out there!" Jasper attempted to keep his voice level as he spoke, but he could feel the desire to raise it gripping his throat, could feel his chest with the awful feeling he always got when he remembered Oliver.
His mother put her hand on his shoulder. " Sweetheart, it's been almost six years since he disappeared, and it's unlikely that he's survived this long on his own. Maybe it's time to accep-"
"No!" Jasper interrupted. " How could your just expect me to okay with you guys hanging him up on the dead people wall? He's not dead!"
"Jasper Lawrence! You do not talk to your mother that way!' His father hollered. He was now standing with his hands planted firmly on the table.
Jasper clenched his fists. He hated when they brought up Oli, like he was just some corpse to commemorate on that stupid wall. Jasper got out of his chair, and stormed out of the kitchen. His father and mother followed close behind, trying desperately to reason with him.
Walking past the hallway, past the wall of lost relatives, he stopped for a moment. Some he remembered, some died before he even knew them. So many of smiling faces, so many souls lost to time. Was he ready to see Oliver join them?
No, he thought to himself, not until he knew for sure that he was gone; not until he got proof. He looked at the picture in his hands, at Olis joy-filled face. A face so full of life, of happiness; it was crazy to think of how miserable that lit up face looked the night he disappeared. The night his best friend was taken away by pain. Pain caused by Oli's own kin.
Jasper looked at his mother and father, their faces filled with concern. For a moment, Jasper felt bad for his outburst, for yelling at two people who might have just been trying to help. But Jasper knew his friend wasn't dead. Oliver was much too strong for that. He would have found a way. Jasper carefully took the picture out of the frame and folded it up. He then put the photo in his pocket, handing the mahogany frame back to his mother.
" I know you guys just want to help me grieve and all, but he's not dead. I just know it." Jasper stated just above a whisper. He walked back up the hall, carefully passing his parents as he did so. He entered the front room, opened the front door and headed out.
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The warm autumn air caressed the tension from his face as he walked. In the comfort of the singing of birds and the whispering of trees, Jasper let his mind wander. He let his mind scream about all the stressful things in his life. Scream about his parents insisting and demanding to accept that all was lost. Scream at his friends for abandoning him in the face of danger. Scream about the confusion he still felt about the blue eyed beast.
As he walked he thought of many things, but most of all, he thought of Oliver. Jaspers and Olivers parents had been friends, which led to many play dates as young children. At first, he was just some kid to Jasper, but he would soon be more than that. Their bond grew into the first grade, and by the third grade they were as thick as thieves. He loved Oli dearly, so much that it hurt for him to go, but Jasper understood why.
Jasper felt tears welling up in his eyes. He tried to shake the memories rushing through his head, but they overtook his mind with every pained breath.
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"Oli, breathe ok? what happened?"
When Oliver had called for an emergency meet up on the walkies, Jasper hadn't thought twice. Oli stood before him now a sobbing mess, covered in fleshy purple bruises and bloodied welts. Sure, he'd come to play dates with two or three on his arm or leg, but it had never gotten this bad before. For a moment, all Jasper could do was hold him as he cried. After a few minutes, a few heart-wrenching minutes, Oli spoke.
"I can't do this anymore..." He started just above a whisper "I'm so sorry, but I can't live like this..."
"But you can't leave, you can't." Suddenly it was now Jasper who was crying. He knew his friend would have to do this, he just didn't know it would be so soon.
"I'm sorry Jasp, but I can't stay there. It's only going to get worse; who knows how bad it'll get. I can't stick around to find out. They'll kill me."
His voice lowered at the last sentence, finally putting to words what they were both thinking. Jasper tried not to cry any harder than he was already. He took his friends hands in his and took a deep breath. Oli pressed his forehead against Jaspers, before wrapping his arms around him in what would be their last hug.
And just as soon as it started, their hug ended.
He was gone.
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