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homerfreak2011

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Ben wrapped his arm around her, hugging her close in the bus seat. She leaned her head on his shoulder, letting his warmth surround her. He was so good to her.

“Julie?” He kissed her head.

“Yeah?” She looked up at him, seeing him looking down at her.

“Baby, are you up for telling a story?”

She wrapped her arms tight around his abdomen. “Yeah…”

“Okay, which one is it this time?”

“Well… On my 16^th birthday, I was at home, standing in my kitchen, arguing with my mother…” The bus started shaking violently. Again, Julia felt the sharp pain behind her eyes. Ben hugged her close to him, comforting her. “It was about 4 in the afternoon, after lunch…” Her world went black.

*

There they were, her and Ben, standing in the kitchen of the house she grew up in. Now-Julia sighed as she saw herself standing only a few feet away.

“Mother! That’s not fair!” Then-Julia slammed her hand down on the counter. “It’s my birthday! Why can’t I go out with them?!”

“Julia, you’re not leaving the house! I don’t care what plans you made! You didn’t clear them by us!”

“MOM!”

“Julia!”

Then-Julia, her face flushed, grabbed the nearest thing to her, and threw it in the floor. Milk and glass flew in all directions.

“J… Julia?” Then-Julia’s face went pale as she heard the soft voice of her little brother. “Julia, what’d I do…?” She turned to see him standing behind her, tears in his eyes. The cup she had just sent flying was his favorite cup. The one he had poured her milk in that morning.

“Kyle…”

The boy turned and ran out of the room, hurt. Then-Julia ran after him. Dead-Julia was still in Ben’s arms, silent tears running down his face. She had hurt Kyle so bad and hadn’t even meant to.

“That girl… I swear…” Julia’s mom shook her head. Now-Julia looked up to see her pull something out of the refrigerator. “All we wanted was a birthday at home…” She sat the cake on the counter, wiping her eyes.

Now-Julia felt a pain in her gut. She had not only hurt her brother, she had hurt her mom. She had been selfish. She had assumed her mother was just trying to be mean to her by keeping her at home, when really, she was wanting to help Julia celebrate her Sweet 16.

Now-Julia closed her eyes, shaking her head.

*

“I was a horrible daughter… and a horrible sister…” Julia looked at the floor of the bus. “Maybe I did deserve to die on that Greyhound.”

Ben wrapped both arms around her, hugging her close. “Baby, don’t say that. Everybody makes mistakes.”

Julia started bawling, seeking comfort from Ben. He eagerly gave it to her. He really, truly loved her. He knew how she felt. He went through the same thing when he told his stories. The story of his fight with his mother the morning of his death when he was 19… The story of when he was forced to watch his sister get raped by their uncle when he was 8... The story of when he had to put down the dog he had all his life when he was 14... He knew how she felt. The memories were hard. They always were. She just had to pull through them.

“Honey…” He pulled her up in his lap, kissing her softly. “Things’ll be okay. This’ll all be over soon…”

She laid her head against his chest. “Promise?”

He nodded, kissing her forehead. “I promise.”

* * * * * * * * * *

Julia yawned as they boarded the next bus. The threw their luggage in the overhead compartment and found a clean, empty seat. Ben playfully pushed her into the seat, sliding in next to her and kissing her, pinning her against the window. She laughed.

“Benny! God!”

He smiled and kissed her again, wrapping his arms around her. “You think you can tell another?”

She looked down. “Ben, it hurts.”

“I know…”

“Why do I have to do it? And how many do I have to tell?”

“Sweetheart… you really need to. It helps the pow--”

“I-- want action, tonight. Sa-tis-fac-tion all night!”

Ben grabbed his cell phone from his pocket and flipped it open, holding it to his ear. “Hello?” A pause. “No, I’m not in New York. I’m on a Greyhound headed for Minnesota.” Another. “Yeah. Exactly. I’m hoping it’ll help her into this. Ease her into more stories.” A longer silence. “Yes, sir. I will immediately.” Ben closed his phone and slid it back in his pocket. He faced the front of the bus, his look blank.

Julia put a hand on his cheek. “Benny?”

“I have to remove somebody.”

“What…?” She scooted a little closer, putting her arms around his abdomen.

“Someone in your hometown. They’re dead. I have to remove them. Their time is up.”

Julia leaned back against the window, giving Ben a strange look. “You send people away already? You’re not a power…”

“It’s part of my training. They have to know that I can do it without emotion.” He looked at her, his eyes filled with pain. “Sweetheart, it’s… it’s an 8-year-old. I have to remove a kid.”

“What…?” She shook her head. “I thought you said they went to orphanages… so that… so that they can be adopted… and have a good life…”

“They don’t have room for this one. I don’t have a choice. I have to send it to Quarantine.” He avoided her eyes.

“Benny… who is it…?” She got in front of him, looking him in the eyes. “Tell me… please tell me… I probably know them.”

He looked into her eyes sympathetically, wrapping his arms around her waist. “Kyle.”