Obscura Burning by Suzanne van Rooyen

school.” He’s kissing me before I have time to process what he just said. The nausea subsides and I drag my fingers across his spine. No ridge of keloid tissue, just knobbly vertebrae.
    “What day is it?” I manage between kisses, hooking my fingers through the leather thong around his neck. The St. Anthony medal is cool against my skin.
    “Friday.”
    I strain over his shoulder to see my watch, but I’m not wearing it. A moment of panic laces my veins with ice. Weeks ago. Before the fire. Before the whole world went to shit. If I could just hold on to this moment then maybe I can change things.
    Then I can’t think anymore as Danny’s lips move lower, his teeth on my collarbone and chest. Tears trickle out of my eyes. Maybe I’m dreaming, or maybe the rest was all a nightmare and the fire never happened.
    “Run away with me,” he says, lips on my hips.
    “Where?” I ask, already knowing the answer. Friday morning, April 6.
    “To New York. We could elope.” He pauses and looks up at me, eyes expectant.
    “Danny…” My voice catches in my throat.
    “I know it’s kinda soon, but I love you, cielo. Let’s get outta this shithole of a town.”
    “And live the bohemian life in the Big Apple?” I hear the words, but can’t feel myself saying them. It’s a fragment of memory; it’s not real.
    “Sounds good to me.”
    “Not to me. I’m going to Rice. I don’t want to be some flamboyant faggot in the Village. No one even knows that I’m…about us, I mean.” I stammer, unable to admit that I’m gay to Danny’s face.
    “You embarrassed to be with me?” Such hurt in his eyes, his cherub mouth turned down at the corners.
    “I’m so sorry,” I whisper, pulling him into an embrace.
    His hands on my ribs, squeezing, crushing until I can’t breathe. Pain flares between my shoulders, down the backs of my legs. When I open my eyes, I’m looking up at leering faces. A moment of recognition. I think it might be Mya’s admirer Nicholas as he raises his fist…
    The scenery shivers and I’m falling again, plummeting from the tree. Obscura winks blue between the gaunt branches of the oak tree.
    Dad’s still crashing around upstairs, banging on my bedroom door, so I couldn’t have been out for long. Gingerly, I peel myself off the ground and test each limb. Nothing broken, I think, but my whole left side is throbbing, jaw included. Must’ve landed lopsided. Gently, I probe my bruised side. I think I might’ve cracked a rib. Every breath is a knife through the chest.
    Thursday, June 28. Again.
    My car keys aren’t in my pocket. I fumble in the dark, scrabbling through dirt until I feel cool metal.
    Ten minutes later, I’m standing outside Danny’s house. His mom’s hung up a fresh batch of chilis outside the kitchen window. I knock quietly and don’t wait long until Gabriela opens the door.
    She lets me in with a scowl.
    Danny’s lying on the couch. “You okay, Kyle? Your dad didn’t…”
    “I’m fine. Got out the window.”
    “ Dios mio , man. His drinking that bad again?”
    I settle next to him, pulling his deadweight legs onto my lap.
    “Just didn’t want a black eye. Think I broke a rib though.”
    He leans forward and prods my side. A stab of pain makes me gasp as his fingers find the tender spot.
    “Your dad?”
    “I fell out of the tree.”
    He chuckles and I smile though I’m about two seconds away from spontaneous combustion. I can’t keep living like this. I have to tell someone.
    “Daniel…” I start, but we’re interrupted by his dad, who flicks on the lounge lights.
    “Thought I heard voices.” Juan’s accent is thick, curling over the ends of the words.
    “Sorry, sir. Didn’t mean to wake you.”
    “Dad at it again?” There’s regret on his face. Maybe he thinks he’s to blame. But Dad getting laid off just gives him another excuse to drink.
    I nod and avert my gaze. Since we were kids, I’ve been sneaking into Danny’s whenever I could get away.
    “You