Belonging

C20: Trust

"It's not bullying." I say.

"It is." He insists. "If girls at school are going as far as to hurt you then-"

"It was only one time."

"Don't excuse their behaviour, Anastasiya. And don't defend them either. I'll go back to the school later-"

"Please don't." I whisper. "Please. It just makes it all worse. Please don't."

"любов-"
(Translation: Love.)

"Please." I say desperately, my eyes starting to water again. "I'll do anything."

"Okay." He relents. "But if something else happens then I will. Alright?"

I nod. "Thank you."

I swing back and forth, my legs dangling as I lean my cheek on the chain of the swing. I glance over at the window that allows me to see into the illuminated kitchen, in which my grandfather is moving back and forth as he makes dinner. I did offer to help again but he said it was okay. It's probably for the best; I don't want to hurt myself again and distract him.

A few minutes go by before the back door opens fully and a tall figure steps out from it. I peer my eyes a little, recognising the silhouette to be the one of Aleksander.

He grins at me as he walks over. We've been here alone for the most of the day until my grandfather returned an hour or two ago from wherever he went, but I stayed in my room for the majority of the time.

"Hey, honey." He says. "You okay out here?"

I nod.

"Are you sure?" He asks. "Don't you wanna come inside? It's getting cold."

"I'm sure." I whisper.

"Okay." He says, a bit unsurely. "Why don't I stay out here with you, then?"

"It's fine." I respond.

"Alright." He says with a slight trepidation. "I'll call you when dinner is done."

I nod again, looking down at the floor as I start to swing myself a bit higher. A few more minutes go by before Aleksander calls me to come inside. I get off the swing and walk back into the house, closing the door behind me.

"Go sit in the dining room, I'll bring everything in." My grandfather instructs with a smile.

"Do you want me to help?"

"It's okay. Go and sit down." He urges.

"Okay." I whisper, rushing into the dining room. Aleksander is already sitting down, his attention glued to the phone in his hand. He glances up at me and smiles as I sit in the chair across from him.

I smile back politely.

"How's your new phone treating you?" He asks.

"Good." I answer shyly.

"Good." He parrots. "You're lucky. I didn't get my first phone until I was fifteen."

I don't point out that I see myself as anything but lucky. Instead, an idea springs to my mind and I ask: "who bought it for you?"

"Our parents." He tells me.

I snap my head over to him. He looks at me again, and the small spot of confidence I had gathered to ask him further questions suddenly disappears. "Oh." I whisper.

"Have you got any games on it yet?"

"I got one." I say. "It's.. uh.. you catch fish on it and then let them back into the ocean."