A World of Fragile Things

Skittery stuffed his hands into his pockets trying to forget about the cold as he trudged down the crowded street. He was surprised how the cold and the superficial conversations made it easier not to think of her. One year today his life fell apart and people were passing him telling him Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas? There was nothing merry about it… He hated Christmas, and everyone who told him to enjoy the day. He hated watching men hold their women close to keep them from the snow, hated seeing children run up to their mothers… He was never going to have that… not with her and that's all that mattered.

He shivered as the snow seemed to encircle him as he made his way past the park, not looking in. The park always reminded him of her; that is where they had their first kiss. An awkward quick kiss... after he ran away after screaming at himself for being so stupid… but it made her want him. It made her go after him, something no one thought the Brooklyn girl would ever do. He never realized with that one kiss his life would begin. Now… it just hurt too much to walk past the place where they would meet after selling. Most days he avoided it all together, going a mile out of his way not to go past it, but today he found himself in front of it. He sped up as he walked past, hoping to forget it even existed.

Skittery turned quickly when he thought he heard his name. "Bit?" He asked. "BIT?!" he called, his body stiff but he found his legs carrying him across the street towards the park in a run. He looked around his eyes searching for her. "Bitter?! C'mon baby. Tell me where you are," he called his mind clouding over with thoughts of her. She came back… she came back for him. He ran towards a cluster of trees where they always met. That's when he saw a small figure, barely showing through the snow. He smiled watching the short girl leaning against a tree like Bitter always did as she waited.

"Bit? BIT! Where are ya?" he called when he reached the trees. "Bitter! C'mon baby." He said running in to the trees tears in his eyes. He was so close, she was there! She had to have been… it was her voice.

"Skittery?" A voice called behind him making him spin around quickly.

Come Find Me

"Skitt… buddy what are you doing?" Specs asked a questioning look in his eyes. He had seen Skittery sprinting through the park and something about the look on his face made him uneasy.

"Specs! Help me find her!" he ordered.

"Find who?" Specs asked carefully.

"Bitter, she was just here- calling to me to come find her," He said going deeper into the woods. "I just… I JUST CAN'T FIND HER!" he screamed bending just a bit as he waist tears coming to his eyes.

"Skitt…" he said softly with a sigh. When Skittery didn't answer he caught up to him grabbing him by the shoulder making him turn around. "Skittery!"
"What?!"

"She ain't here." Specs said shaking his head his hands on his shoulders still making him listen.

"Yes she is! She was calling me!" Skittery shot back quickly pushing his chest causing Specs to stumble back.

"No. No she ain't! She's gone," he said going back to him quickly grabbing him by his shoulders shaking him just a bit. "She's dead Skittery. She's gone."

"No… No she was here!" he yelled grabbing Specs by his shirt pulling him closer just a bit in a threatening way. "SHE WAS! You don't know what you're talking about… she…" he stopped his chin quivering just a bit. "Tell me she was here…" he pleaded.

"Skitt.."

"No!" he yelled pushing him away and started out of the woods, but his tears caught him off guard and he leaned his head against a tree letting out his first sob.

"Skitt…" Specs sight going up behind him putting a hand on his back.

"No!" he yelled turning around a tear rolling down his cheek. "You don't know what it's like! You don't get it! I live with this every day! They said it was going to get better- IT'S NOT BETTER! It's never going to be better! It's not! Don't tell me some bullshit about how I should move on and forget her… I can't… she is everything. Everything Specs- don't you get it!? Just… Fuck off!" he yelled and stormed away from the shocked newsie, who he thought was his friend.