COULDN’T ABANDON THEM . . . the words kept repeating over && over in his head, making him more angry after every repetition. these stranger’s kids were more important to her than him && she hadn’t even thought TWICE about admitting it, not even to his face like she’d forgotten who she was even talking to, like she’d forgotten she even had a son at the back of the lot, just beyond a chainlink fence there’s a single tree, an old oak that looks older than everything around it. it reminded him of the one behind their trailer && how he’d climb && climb && climb until he felt like he could touch the clouds && maybe not hear his parents SCREAM at one another. he’d pulled up some nails && boards, skinny arms only able to carry one at a time && built himself ❛ treehouse ❜, a reprieve that he quickly shared with his sister once she was old enough. with some EFFORT he hauled still thin limbs up this tree, only somewhat surprised to find a platform built into its branches ❝ should i come back later ❞ he asked his sister, raising a quick brow ║ @parentsgalore ( jellybean jones )










