The Truth

"My mommy and daddy died," she said in an aching whisper. "My Aunt Kiki came, but she was mean... just like the evil dragon in the stories."

"What stories?" asked Todd.

"The one about the princess in the crystal castle."

"I haven't read those stories," said Todd. "Go on."

"I tried to make Aunt Kiki leave but instead she sent me far away. She said I was bad and needed to go to school," Marty explained. "At the school, the girls were mean. They called me names. They got me in trouble. Then I got locked in the 'bad room.' It was scary in there."

"What happened next?" asked Todd.

"Then my birthday came and Aunt Kiki came to school. I wanted to celebrate my birthday with her," Marty continued. "I thought it would be a nice time, but it was awful. My aunt was so mean to me. She's just like an evil dragon."

Marty was crying. She was softly sobbing on Todd's shoulder.

Todd hugged Marty. "It's okay," he said softly. "It's okay. She's not here now."

"She said... she said..." Marty was crying so it was difficult to get the words out. "She said she was going to leave me on somebody's doorstep."

"Ohhh I hate her, Todd... I hate her. And I don't ever want to go back there!" Marty said sadly.

"You'll never have to go back there," Todd promised. He had no idea what he was going to do, but he was definitely going to find a way to protect Marty.

"I want to stay with you," Marty whispered. "Promise you'll never tell what I just told you?"

"I promise... but there is something I have to tell you," said Todd. "I have a secret, too."

"Do you have a mean aunt like mine?" Marty asked.

"No...but I guess it's almost the same thing," Todd said as he prepared to tell Marty his story.

"I won't tell your secret to anybody," Marty told him.

Todd began to speak, his voice quiet as his heart broke anew. "My mother didn't love me. She sent me away," he said sadly. "She kept my twin brother and my sister, and she put me on a train. I was supposed to go live with my aunt and uncle, but I ran away, too... just like you."

"Are your aunt and uncle mean?" Marty asked quietly.

"I don't know," Todd said honestly. "I have never met them. All I know is that they couldn't have a kid of their own... so my mom decided I had to go live with them. I didn't want to go. I would rather be on my own."

"I was on the train on the way to meet them," explained Todd. "But I just got off. I'm glad I did... or I wouldn't have found you."

"I'm glad you got off that train, too," Marty said sweetly. "I don't know what I would do if I hadn't have met you. I'd be lost without you, Todd."

Todd wondered why up till now, no one had loved him. "My mom doesn't even miss me," he said with sorrow in his voice. "She loved Victor best. I was just Todd... and I was unwanted."

He knew that Marty needed him. She didn't want him to go away, so he felt suddenly loved and wanted. It was the best feeling in the world.

"I'd miss you if you went away," Marty said softly. "I'd be very sad and scared." She didn't know why his mommy didn't love him; he knew a lot so he had to be smart. "I've never had any brothers or sisters, so I don't know how that is supposed to work, but it's not fair that she liked your brother best."

"I didn't think it was fair either," said Todd. "I think I am better off without her though. She never cared about me anyway."

"You're never going to be alone, Marty," said Todd. "I'm going to be with you forever." When he made that promise in that moment, he meant it, with all his heart and soul.

He kissed her on the cheek. "Get some sleep," he said.

Marty was so happy to hear that, she couldn't help but smile. "Okay," she said she was feeling a little bit tired anyway.

"Good night, Todd," she said softly. She drifted off to sleep under a blanket of stars.