have you been up to today? Did you sign up for that GED class yet?" Jackson took a plastic fork from Eli. He opened a container of what looked like Lo Mein and began to dig in.
"I did. It's going to be three nights a week at the community center." Elijah was attacking his own container of food with relish. Apparently Jackson wasn't the only hungry one.
Jackson was immediately proud and impressed that his friend was determined to better himself. Elijah could be so mysterious about his past, and Jackson hoped as long as the younger man had goals in life, Eli wouldn't cut his wrists again.
He listened as Elijah talked about his new class and couldn't help glancing at the scars.
Many questions invaded Jackson's mind, but he wasn't sure how to approach the subject. Since they had met a couple of weeks ago, there were several times he wanted to ask Eli about it but never did. How did one broach that subject, anyway? Jackson liked Eli and enjoyed the friendship developing between them. Although he didn't want to do anything to push the younger man away, Jackson's curiosity and the feelings he had for his friend would eventually mean he'd ask him. He just didn't want to be pushy about it. When Eli was ready to talk, they would.
He hoped.
Eli stopped talking and apparently noticed him gazing at his scars because he sighed and set his food down on Jackson's desk.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
Jackson nearly choked on his food. He was embarrassed to be caught staring, but glad Eli seemed to be willing to discuss it. He wiped his mouth and nodded. "Yes, but only if you want to." Jackson really didn't want his new friend to stress about it.
Eli shrugged. He looked down at his wrists and traced the scars with his fingertips for a few moments. He looked up at him with a pained expression on his face and sighed.
He's really not ready to talk .
"Eli, if you're not ready…" Jackson began.
"It's okay."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
Jackson walked around the desk and sat in the chair beside Eli. He placed a consoling hand on his friend's shoulder. The young man took a deep breath, grabbed his hand with shaky fingers, and held onto it tightly. Eli's hand was cold and clammy, making Jackson even more aware of Eli's nervousness.
"I talked to my therapist today about you." Eli's voice sounded slightly shaky as he stared at their joined hands. "He told me that you sounded like you were a good friend to me… someone I can trust."
It didn't surprise Jackson that his friend was in therapy; in fact, he was relieved to hear he was. Jackson gave Eli's hand a reassuring squeeze and waited for him to continue. Jackson tried to brace himself for the next words his friend would say. It was going to be difficult hearing about Eli's pain, but he still wanted to do it.
"I can trust you, can't I, Jack?"
Eli's words were so softly spoken, Jackson almost didn't hear them. Fear and hope radiated from Eli's body, and Jackson gave his hand another reassuring squeeze. "Yes, Eli. Whatever happened in the past is just what it is… the past. Let me help you and ease this burden you've been carrying around." He kept his voice low and spoke as soothingly as he could.
He didn't want his friend to regret confiding in him. He tried to mentally prepare himself for whatever Eli was about to tell him. Jackson had a feeling that however he reacted to what Eli said would define their relationship, and he prayed that after everything was said and done, they would work it out together, and it would be all right.
They gazed into each other's eyes for a few moments. His friend gave a slight nod before he spoke. "I'm not sure where I should start. Probably from the beginning, I imagine. But before I tell you this, you need to know something."
Jackson nodded, his stomach churning from the helplessness and fear that resonated from Eli's voice.
"I like you, Jack. If I lose our friendship over this… I don't know what I would do. You see, it's been years since someone
"I did. It's going to be three nights a week at the community center." Elijah was attacking his own container of food with relish. Apparently Jackson wasn't the only hungry one.
Jackson was immediately proud and impressed that his friend was determined to better himself. Elijah could be so mysterious about his past, and Jackson hoped as long as the younger man had goals in life, Eli wouldn't cut his wrists again.
He listened as Elijah talked about his new class and couldn't help glancing at the scars.
Many questions invaded Jackson's mind, but he wasn't sure how to approach the subject. Since they had met a couple of weeks ago, there were several times he wanted to ask Eli about it but never did. How did one broach that subject, anyway? Jackson liked Eli and enjoyed the friendship developing between them. Although he didn't want to do anything to push the younger man away, Jackson's curiosity and the feelings he had for his friend would eventually mean he'd ask him. He just didn't want to be pushy about it. When Eli was ready to talk, they would.
He hoped.
Eli stopped talking and apparently noticed him gazing at his scars because he sighed and set his food down on Jackson's desk.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
Jackson nearly choked on his food. He was embarrassed to be caught staring, but glad Eli seemed to be willing to discuss it. He wiped his mouth and nodded. "Yes, but only if you want to." Jackson really didn't want his new friend to stress about it.
Eli shrugged. He looked down at his wrists and traced the scars with his fingertips for a few moments. He looked up at him with a pained expression on his face and sighed.
He's really not ready to talk .
"Eli, if you're not ready…" Jackson began.
"It's okay."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
Jackson walked around the desk and sat in the chair beside Eli. He placed a consoling hand on his friend's shoulder. The young man took a deep breath, grabbed his hand with shaky fingers, and held onto it tightly. Eli's hand was cold and clammy, making Jackson even more aware of Eli's nervousness.
"I talked to my therapist today about you." Eli's voice sounded slightly shaky as he stared at their joined hands. "He told me that you sounded like you were a good friend to me… someone I can trust."
It didn't surprise Jackson that his friend was in therapy; in fact, he was relieved to hear he was. Jackson gave Eli's hand a reassuring squeeze and waited for him to continue. Jackson tried to brace himself for the next words his friend would say. It was going to be difficult hearing about Eli's pain, but he still wanted to do it.
"I can trust you, can't I, Jack?"
Eli's words were so softly spoken, Jackson almost didn't hear them. Fear and hope radiated from Eli's body, and Jackson gave his hand another reassuring squeeze. "Yes, Eli. Whatever happened in the past is just what it is… the past. Let me help you and ease this burden you've been carrying around." He kept his voice low and spoke as soothingly as he could.
He didn't want his friend to regret confiding in him. He tried to mentally prepare himself for whatever Eli was about to tell him. Jackson had a feeling that however he reacted to what Eli said would define their relationship, and he prayed that after everything was said and done, they would work it out together, and it would be all right.
They gazed into each other's eyes for a few moments. His friend gave a slight nod before he spoke. "I'm not sure where I should start. Probably from the beginning, I imagine. But before I tell you this, you need to know something."
Jackson nodded, his stomach churning from the helplessness and fear that resonated from Eli's voice.
"I like you, Jack. If I lose our friendship over this… I don't know what I would do. You see, it's been years since someone
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