It was fear and uncertainty that drove John to her doorstep—well, figuratively at least. Literally, it had taken him to her bedroom. Her family home was like an oasis of normality … a place so full of familial warmth it felt like a foreign country to him. But each time he visited her, he felt a bit less like a tourist there.
Recent days had brought a downward spiral of betrayal and shifting alliances among the Tomorrow People. There was no one among his own kind who he could completely trust … not Cara, or Stephen, or even Russell, in spite of the sense of camaraderie between them. Their world was coming apart at the seams.
At first he thought he should just run—go underground, so to speak, live by his wits and powers, not look back. He thought of leaving everything behind, and rebuilding his life all over again from the foundation up. Yet, there was a part of him that was reluctant to let go of the life, however dysfunctional, that he'd already built. The greater part of him though was driven to stay out of concern for his people, the ones that he believed or hoped he could trust. And then there was the one person he knew he could trust—Astrid. So he did what he had once chided Stephen for doing, he allowed their friendship to draw her deeper into his dangerous world.
He often felt the push and pull of wanting to see her, and yet not wanting to involve her. But as the days grew more perilous, and the motives of those around him grew harder to discern, he found the pull strong indeed. They shared an immutable bond—a bond forged in adversity, and nurtured by mutual support. So much so, it felt natural now to turn to her.
John felt at once proud and saddened by the changes in Astrid. Not long ago she was paralyzed by fear. Her association with Stephen had introduced danger into her once peaceful life, and left her afraid to so much as leave her house. He'd helped her face her fear, and reenter the world. In turn, she'd given him the sage advice to do the same. So while he welcomed her rediscovered sense of assurance and confidence, he was sad to see her fear replaced by something harder – cynicism and a wariness of others.
Now though, she showed no hesitation. She no longer questioned his interest in her life and well-being. They were friends … no, they were more than that, though no single word could describe and encompass their relationship. He could come to her, tell her what was troubling him, share his fears and worries. Sometimes she would just listen; sometimes she would give him advice tinged with her typical sarcasm. Sometimes though she was so genuine and heartfelt, it made him ache inside. And he believed she knew that she could do the same. He would be there for her no matter the problem or worry. He would help her navigate it, if he could. Theirs was a relationship unlike any other in his experience. Someday, he hoped the fractures of their world would heal, and then they could come together to share their triumphs and successes.
In the meantime, when they parted, it was with a lingering embrace. Because in uncertain and perilous times, it's unwise to leave those you care about in doubt of how you really feel.