Nice To Meet You

  Luke had his head buried in the crook of my neck, and for a second I forgot all the pieces I had been trying to put together. I had been trying to think about just why I was brought back here, to see him from this perspective, and this...it just made me forget.

"My dad....my dad." He just kept saying into my neck, his breath fanning my skin. 

I slowly put my arms around him as he pulled himself closer to me. I understood just how much he needed someone right now. To be there for him. Strangely, I found myself willing.

"I am sorry, Luke." I managed to say as I patted his back. "I am so sorry."

Something in me told me I wasn't just apologizing for this one thing, but I kicked the notion away.

He released me slowly, and when he looked at me, his eyes were slightly swollen from crying so much. I didn't even know this was how he looked when he was less than calm and collected. I didn't know this was how he looked when he was devastated.

"I want to go home..." He said to me, his voice breaking. Home...I knew the McGregor mansion. I just wasn't sure how I didn't know that his father was my favorite science professor and the main reason behind my choice of college. I only knew that Mr. McGregor even refused a pay and was teaching and researching as a hobby. Maybe they got rid of everything after his death.

"I will take you home." I said in a whisper, even though I wasn't sure why.

I managed to get him out of the hospital and hailed a cab. I helped him get in, before I got in too and told the driver the address.

Luke seemed weak with the way he was sitting and he wasn't able to cry anymore. It's like how you cry so much till you can't just muster anymore tears.

"Do you..perhaps want to rest your head for a while?"

He looked at me, then forced a small smile.

"Do we...know each other?" His voice was polite.

"I am a friend." I said simply, then tapped my shoulder. "You can rest your head till you get home. You have been through a lot today."

"Thank you." He said, then gently rested his head on my shoulder, his hair caressing the tops of my neck.

Before I came back here, I would never have imagined going out of my way to be kind to him, but maybe seeing him at his very lowest, with his guard down, I guess I wasn't so stone hearted.

The cab stopped at our destination and I paid before helping a half asleep Luke out of the car. Somewhere during the drive, he had found comfort in my shoulder, and had fallen asleep.

"We are here."

He nodded, examining the house. "I don't want to stay here."

"What?" I asked. "Why?"

"There are so many memories here that I would rather not see today." He sighed and started to walk away.

"Then where do you want to go?"

"I don't know, anywhere." He said simply. 

I watched him walk slowly, a little absent mindedly away, before I ran up to him.

"Maybe you should come with me till you are better. Since you don't want to stay home, you can stay at my place till you are better."

Hell, Karla. What are you doing? There was an internal conflict inside me, but I tried my best to be firm. He needed help. I would give it to him. I was slowly starting to believe that he was my purpose, and I wouldn't push him away like that.

"I don't have anything to offer you." He said, then pointed at the mansion. "That's all my parents'. Oh. My father died."

His eyes were glassy with the reflection of the tears that stood in his eyes and I walked to him and held his hand reassuringly.

"I promise, there's nothing I'll ask for."

We got into another cab to my house, and this time he didn't need an invite before he lay on my shoulder. But he didn't sleep. It was like seeing the house had caused him to remember, and he had lost all sorts of calm or relaxation.

I tucked him into my bed at home, and sat on the small dressing stool that I had brought to the bedside. He was asleep, and was running a temperature. I got one of my pink towels and soaked it in water, before dabbing it over his body. I then soaked it again, then left it on his forehead.

I watched him as he slept, his sleep a little disturbed. Sometimes his breath would accelerate and become forced and ragged, other times they would even out. I didn't even realize when I fell asleep myself, my head on the bed, supported by my right hand.

The first ray of sunlight filtered into my eyes, and I woke only to turn to the other side. My bones felt so stiff and I felt sore all over.

"Good morning."

 I stopped yawning, then sat up, sleep leaving my eyes.

"Luke?"

His eyes were wide, and his brows slightly raised, with a small smile on his lips as he looked at me. It was a fascinated kind of look. I wondered if he was just fascinated at how foolishly trusting I could be.

"Yes, me." He said. He was examining my expressions, and I cleared my throat as I straightened. 

"I think I have imposed on you too much. You didn't even sleep on your own bed."

"No. It's fine. How are you?"

"I am okay," He said, then slowly removed the covers. "I think I'll just go home now."

"You said you didn't want to be there last night. Are you sure it's okay now?"

He nodded. "I am sure I can handle it now."

I stood up and yawned a little. He came to me and slowly removed strands of my hair from my face, causing me to immediately stop breathing. The fact that he was so close was enough for me to.

"Thanks for last night." He said then moved away. 

"Your mum...she collapsed yesterday at the hospital."

He nodded, like I was telling him the date. "She will be fine."

"Won't you see her?"

He shook his head. "It is just for show anyway."  

"Show?"

He smiled and waved it away. "Can you tell me your name?"

"Karla." I snickered to myself thinking about when we were first introduced to each other.

"Karla." He said after me. "It's really nice to meet you, Karla."