The Spider & the Storm

by Kelsey Kingsley

So misunderstood. So damaged by the tragedies and trauma life threw at him over and over again.

oh no Idkif i can take another one.

panic didn’t leave much room for self-consciousness,

Luke’s soft tone jolted my heart,

3rd time I've cried already

I glanced at my bearded face

Please do not let this mean no one ever taught him how to shave.

I replied through a tense jaw, the word spoken as a dare for her to continue with her questions.

Well that answers that question. Honestly I was worried how this was going.

GED

Cant get a GED until you're 18.

My entire life, that was all I’d ever wanted—to just be left alone to live my quiet life in peace.

feeling good about the future for maybe the first time in an incredibly long while.

47% in and this is making me so scared

“Ghosts can’t hurt you,”

“Soldier?”

Soldier? How did I miss they were in the same universe?

“You just tell me what I'm fighting against, Charlie, and I'll go into battle with you.”

None of it would hold a candle to the fragile truth making Soldier look like that.

No no no don't you dare

“Then, don't,” I whispered, but the damage had already been done, hadn't it?

Please don't.

but the tears wouldn't come.

That's okay I'm crying enough for all of us.