"Have you heard anything new about...?"
"It's okay. You can say it... about my Dad." Emil had spent the last month trying to come to terms with this new reality of knowing who his father was. After years of wondering, he finally knew, and now he wanted nothing more than to go back to not knowing again. Ironically, his mother was more willing than ever to talk about him now. She had even promised she would tell him everything he wanted to know; all he needed to do was ask. But he'd already decided that he knew more than enough. He slowly shook his head to answer his close friend Danial's question. "No news. It's like he's disappeared off the face of the earth. Either that, or the cops aren't trying hard enough to find him." He sighed and added. "It's been a month and still... nothing."
Danial seemingly tried his best to give him a reassuring smile, but it wasn't very convincing, and neither were his words. "I'm sure they'll find him." Emil shrugged, feeling very doubtful. This past month had almost felt like a year. He wondered if this was what his life would be like now; stuck in the house or in school, waiting for news that would probably never come, while the walls were caving in on him. But no matter how much he appreciated today's change of scenery, he couldn't help but nervously glance around the park for any sign of danger. He closed his eyes when he realized, trying to smother the stupid fear inside him. He couldn't let it get to him like it did to his mother. "How's your Mum holding up?" Danial asked, as if he had read his mind. Emil shrugged again, opening his eyes to meet his friend's. "She's okay, I guess, but she barely lets me or Elias leave the house on our own anymore. Wilson had to convince her it was fine for me to come here today, and she only finally agreed when he said he'd drive me." "And.. what about you... Um... Are you scared?"
Emil didn't want to be scared, and saying it aloud only seemed like a way to acknowledge his fear, so he shook his head. "No... I don't think so. I think I'm mostly just... disappointed. I always hoped, if I ever met him, that he would be different, you know? Better from what I've been told... or at least changed." He scoffed. "Turns out he's much worse than my Mum ever let on. He's..." He swallowed.
A monster, he thought as he avoided Danial's eyes.
"Hey," Danial mumbled softly. "It'll be fine, okay? They'll catch him, and they'll lock him away, and you'll never have to see him again." He took Emil's hand in his. "Everything will be okay."
For a brief moment, Emil forgot all about what was bothering him as he looked down at their hands. He focused on the warmth of Danial's skin against his, how it flowed through his body, all the way to his chest, making his heart beat fast. There was an even briefer moment of calm, and then confusion hit him. His face heated, and he quickly removed his hand. "Thanks," he mumbled, not daring to meet his friend's eyes, equally scared of what he would find in them as he was of what could be seen in his own.