Break Me (Phan)

Philip Lester
Saturday 24th October

Okay, alright, I'm calling it now: I don't see what's wrong with Daniel Howell. That's why when Alison was over having tea with my mum, I wandered down the stairs to sit in during the conversation, piping up when I had the chance, "Hey, Alison?" I asked.

"Yes, Phil?" she responded politely, placing her empty mug on a coaster.

"This might seem strange, but can you tell me more about Daniel Howell?" I sat back in my chair, crossing my legs over on the seat.

"Daniel?" she scoffed, "If you're sure. He was born in this neighbourhood, but he grew up to be something terrible. Personally, I've seen him tipping bins over and emptying them out, leaving the rubbish all over people's gardens. I've seen him spitting into bushes, starting fights at the park. In fact, parents can't even leave their children unattended like they could before he came around. I've even seen him masturbating in public." I wiggled uncomfortably at that, "He's a rotten kid. I've heard rumours of drugs, smoking, mild sexual harassment, underage drinking, breaking and entering. But, I can't say they're true. Did you hear he's actually got a job? The place has had half the business because of it, he won't be in there for long. Keeps him off the streets, I guess."

"Yeah, I went down to the bookshop a few days ago. I picked up a couple of books after my shift at the grocer's." I admitted.

"Oh, the grocer's? Lovely place, do they treat you well?" and just like that, Daniel Howell had been brushed under another rug.

I'd become convinced he wasn't as bad as people made him out to be.

It was a Saturday, so I was working another shift at the grocer's, but only from twelve until four. It was a welcoming shop, consisting of mostly older residents browsing for fresh fruit and veg. I walked past the bookshop, glancing inside wondering if Daniel was working. I approached the store, glancing up at the official name for the first time, 'Brooks'. It seemed like a local shop, maybe once family owned.

I found my legs walking me into the shop on the late-October day, my hands stuffed into my coat pocket. I was met by a blast of warm air, my eyes glancing up at the till. I grinned, "Hey." as Daniel stood up from his stool.

"Welcome back." he grumbled, leaning on the desk with his elbows, "Browsing or got something else in mind?"

"Just browsing." I sighed, feeling as though this was more true to the Daniel of his rumours.

"Right." he nodded, turning around and lifting his arms up to fetch something off of a high shelf. I refrained a gasp as I watched his shirt ride up his back a few inches, revealing an array of bruises on his back. His shoulders slouched before he knelt down to move a small ladder beneath him, climbing the steps and lifting his arms to reveal the marks against him again.

I had to confirm to myself that it wasn't just his Marking, but on the second time they appeared, it confirmed it in my mind. Maybe he really did get into trouble on the town's streets. In fact, this could all bottle down to his Marking, or more to the point his possible lack of one. There was the chance he has a hidden one, like me, but it wasn't common as most of them were positioned on people's hands as they were the instruments people guided themselves through the world with.

He turned around, stepping down the ladder and cocking an eyebrow up, "Are you going to browse?"

I gulped, realising I looked like a complete idiot, "You asked me the other day if I was the reason for your job-"

"Honestly," he admitted, "I don't care. I'm earning money, then I can move out of this town. Are you buying books or not?"

I bounced slightly on the spot, feeling awkward to continue into the store, as well as stepping out. I didn't want to retreat, but I was also highly cautious of this escalating into something else. So, I nodded, heading over to the shelves and silently reading the blurbs off of a few covers. I hadn't even finished the last books I bought.