The Sentinels Boarfish

Towhee’s words were spoken with a weight of understanding. And though the young man tried to harden himself against them, he could not spare the tender sliver of his heart that held onto the image of his mom’s face and the loving looks she had blessed him with on so many hard days.

The boy’s bitterness had foundation, though he could not understand that he had pushed himself into this corner. Hellbent on revenge for a family who was safe and sound in their copse. He had other siblings. Ray was there. The more he thought about what his grandmother had told him, the less he belonged. While he had been adamant about shirking her offers and pushing her away, Swordfish couldn’t help but linger on this.

You…

Could she not see how much it hurt him? Could she not see past the puffed-up attempt to harden himself? That there was still a small scared boy in his body. A boy who had never been given the chance to heal from the trauma he had endured.

Ya said they’re happy, he croaked. Tears burned at his eyes but he would not allow himself to crack, to let them fall. Ah- Just want ‘em to stay that way.

The ghost of their child returning would bring nothing but hurt.