Letting Go of Us (Anchored Hearts Vol. 3)

by J. M. Witt

  Once we’re excused from the table, I watch as everyone moves into the other rooms and I quickly make my escape through the open garage door.

  I can feel the sweat trickle down my back the faster I pedal my bike. In a few minutes I should be at Daulton’s house; I just hope he’s home.

  Rounding the last turn in his neighborhood, I see that the front porch light is on and the garage door is open with his mom’s car parked inside.

  I hop off of my bike and lean it against the side of the house. As I march my way up onto the front porch, I take off my jacket and hang it across my arm. I reach for the doorbell and wait for someone to come and answer the door.

  The front door swings open and Daulton stands in the doorway wearing a Skate or Die tee-shirt and black running pants.

  A smile comes across his face as he pushes open the screen door.

  “Dude, what are you doing here? Isn’t it like election night or something?” he asks, standing up against the door frame with his arms crossed in front of his chest.

  I look to him and punch him in the shoulder.

  “Yeah, it’s something alright. I was bored out of my mind and needed to get out of there fast.”

  “Linc, your parents are going to kill you. Are you sure you should be here?”

  “I’m sure, now let me in and let’s play some video games.”

  I make my way through the door and follow Daulton back to his room.

  The house is eerily quiet and dark. I know his mom is here, I saw her car parked in the garage. It’s really no bother to me, so I shrug it off and plop myself down on one of the bean bag chairs in front of the TV.

  Daulton loads a game into the Nintendo and hands me a controller. For the next hour or so we battle one another, each of us winning a game or two.

  Lights flash across his bedroom wall from the outside and I hear a car door slam.

  My ear perks to a noise coming from the front yard. It sounds like someone’s yelling, but I can’t make it out.

  Daulton grabs my hand and I follow him into the other room.

  He quickly closes the old, cracked, wooden closet door after us and we slide back to the wall behind the musty clothes and boxes.

  My body is trembling and I can hear Daulton’s teeth chattering in fear.

  What the heck just happened?

  All I remember is playing video games in his bedroom and before I know it, he’s pulling me into the guest room closet.

  I follow his lead, completely clueless as to what’s going on. A million thoughts are racing through my head.

  Is it his mom? His dad?

  Is there a robber in the house and we’re hiding so that he doesn’t find us?

  Is there a chance that something bad is going to happen and I’ll never make it home to see my family again?

  Daulton and I have been best friends since Kindergarten. We’ve played tee-ball together and even made the traveling baseball team this year. The two of us have been inseparable since we first met.

  He’s the one friend I can get along with and be myself. I don’t have to pretend around him, and I sure as heck don’t have to act like a congressman’s son when we’re together.

  No matter how badly we mess around or bully one another on the playground, I always know I’m safe with him…that is, until now.

  I rest my head in my hands and can feel the tears prick the back of my eyelids. I never should have snuck out of home and ridden my bike to Daulton’s house tonight. It was a big mistake and now I’m scared to death to be here with him.

  When my parents find out that I’m gone, I’ll be in more trouble than ever before. But one thing is for sure, being grounded for life is better than hiding in this closet.

  A door slams in the other room and I hear a muffled cry. Three loud sounds vibrate the wall behind us and I can only imagine what could be causing the thumping noise.

  Our bodies both jump at the clamor coming from outside the closet. I hear his mother’s scream and the sound of something slamming into the wall.

  Daulton moves his body further back into the closet and I look in his direction. All I see is pitch black except for the subtle light coming through the space between the bottom of the door and the floor.

  Sounds echo from the other room and more shouts and screams follow. I can’t make out what’s happening, but the fear coursing through my body tells me that something isn’t right in this house.

  A loud bang goes off…and then another. Daulton reaches his hand out to me and our bodies shiver together.

  Moments pass by—I’m not sure if it’s seconds or minutes—but it feels like a lifetime.

  The front door slams shut and I can feel my heart pounding through my tuxedo shirt.

  This has to be the worst night of my life and I can only imagine what’s going to happen next.

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