Matthew knew there was something wrong with that man the first time he laid eyes on him. The teacher told the class that he was a doctor just here to do a "routine" check-up. Matthew could never recall the school giving check-ups before, and that man! Matthew could see something spark in the doctor's eyes when he saw Matthew's twin brother, Alfred. Alfred, of course, didn't notice a thing. He just rambled on and on while the doctor inspected him with that queer glint in his eye.
When the doctor finished checking-up all of the students, he left, but not before casting one more glance at Alfred. Matthew grabbed Alfred's hand possessively. Alfred gave him a questioning look before shrugging and turning to gab with his friend, Kiku.
A few months went by since that day the doctor came to their school, and Matthew almost put the incident from his mind. That all changed, however, when on one sunny, April day the twins came home to find that man in their lawn and talking to their mother.
"Why is the doctor from school here," Alfred asked his twin.
"I don't know," Matthew replied while gripping his brother's hand, "but I don't like it. Something seemed off about him and he looked at you weird. I'm scared."
Alfred glanced at the doctor worriedly at the doctor. Matthew was the perceptive one of the two, and in Alfred's twelve years of existence, he learned to trust his twin's judgment. If Matthew felt that there was something wrong with that man, Alfred knew he should be wary. Still, that was no reason to let his brother be scared. "Don't worry, Mattie," Alfred said, "I'm a hero and I'll never let anything bad happen."
Matthew smiled a little, but his nerves never left him as they approached their house. When the man and their mother finally noticed the twins, both of their eyes went toward Alfred.
"Alfred, Matthew, this is a Doctor Corcoran. He has come to inform us that he has noticed something is wrong with Alfred," their mother explained.
"What!" Alfred exclaimed at the same moment Matthew yelled "What do you mean?"
"Yes, while examining the students at your school, I noticed a few peculiarities about Alfred. I have come to the conclusion that Alfred is mentally ill."
The boys stared dumbly at the doctor. Matthew couldn't believe it. Sure, Alfred was odd and convinced that aliens existed, but Matthew could not recall a single moment when Alfred acted mentally ill.
"This must be a mistake, Alfred couldn't possibly be-"
"I've noticed it myself a few times," their mother said, cutting Matthew off, "but luckily this doctor is offering Alfred space in his mental hospital where Alfred will get the best treatment possible, right?" the doctor nodded with that odd glint in his eye again, "Pack up a bag, Alfred, you're leaving with him today."
"But Mother! I-" Alfred was silenced by the angry look in his mother's eye, and ran up to his room with his twin trailing behind. He couldn't believe it. He always knew his mother disliked him. Alfred's eyes were the color of his abusive, rapist father, and Alfred's mother hated them. But he never thought she would purposely get rid of him. And what was up with the doctor calling him crazy? He wasn't crazy, he just wasn't!
When Matthew finally caught up with Alfred, he found his twin crying on the bed. It was odd; he had never seen Alfred cry before. Matthew hugged his brother while holding in his own tears. He had to be a hero for the brother who was always a hero for him.
"Mattie, I'm scared. I don't want to leave and go with that man. And I'm not, I'm not crazy," Alfred burst into a bout of uncontrollable sobs.
"Shh, it'll be alright," Matthew soothed while clinging more tightly to Alfred, "You're not crazy, so they'll let you go. And if not, I'll find a way to get you out of there."
"You promise?" Alfred asked softly.
"Promise."
Matthew then helped Alfred pack. Before they went downstairs, Matthew handed Alfred a stuffed polar bear.
"Are you sure you want me to take Kumajiro," Matthew nodded and Alfred reached in his bag and pulled out a green alien "Here, take Tony so you have something to remember me by, too."
With that, they went downstairs. Doctor Corcoran immediately grabbed Alfred and pulled him towards his car.
"Bye, Alfie, I love you!" Matthew called.
"I love you, too, Mattie," Alfred replied, "And I love you, Mother."
Their mother just pursed her lips and turned away.