Read Online In the Lyrics by Nacole Stayton - Free Book Online Page B

anything. He must be really upset. Not talking is something I’m used to. Levi would sometimes go days without speaking. We just had to come up with other ways of communication. Holding my thumb in the air, I silently ask for his permission. He mimics my hand gesture and I know it’s okay to look at his arm. “There’s just a little scrape here,” I point to the area, and his eyes follow.
    “Where did you learn how to communicate with children like Joshua?” Mrs. Blair asks, choosing her words carefully.
    Looking around, I see that we are the only adults in here. Hensley must be outside still trying to tame the horse with Logan, so I feel safe saying, “My little brother had Asperger’s syndrome.”
    I can tell when people notice I use the word “had” and not “has.”
    “I’m sorry for your loss.” She frowns as she moves in front of me and starts her own assessment of Joshua’s injuries.
    “Joshua!” Logan howls as he rushes through the back door. His face falls flat when he sees me kneeling in front of Joshua, doing his job. The one he failed to do.
    “We, um, got this, Colby. Thanks for bringing him in,” Logan mumbles as he reaches us. He looks pissed when he sits down next to Joshua on the couch. Joshua’s body stiffens and I know he is uncomfortable. Looking over towards me, his eyes silently beg me to sit next to him and not Logan.
    Mrs. Blair pats my hand that is resting on Joshua’s knee. “I think I saw Hensley taking the horse into the stables; you’re welcome to go meet her out there.” Getting up, I tousle Joshua’s hair, and turn on my heels heading towards the door. “Thank you for helping us today. We appreciate it, and I know little Joshua here does too.”
    “No problem, ma’am. I’m glad it wasn’t worse.”
    “Me too,” I hear her whisper before I shut the door behind me.
    Walking towards the only stables I see, I can hear the soft sounds of a girl crying. As I stroll nearer, I see Hensley bent down sitting on a bale of hay. Her hands are covering her face muffling the noise, but I know she’s crying. The sound is burned into my memory from my mother. Not speaking, I walk up in front of her, but she doesn’t move her hands. Bending down, I kneel and reach up to grab her hands. Lowering them, I can see her cheeks are wet and stained with mascara. Silently scooting closer to her, I raise the cloth of my T-shirt on my shoulder and start to wipe away the wetness from her cheeks.
    “I’m sorry. I’m a mess. You don’t have to do that. Please stop, I don’t want to ruin your shirt,” she hiccups through her sobs.
    “You’re not ruining anything, Hensley.”
    Once her face is clean and the tears have stopped, she opens her mouth to talk. Quickly moving my hand in front of her face, I place my index finger on her lips. She looks surprised by my touch, but whatever excuse she’s about to give me, I don’t want to hear it.
    “Shh, Sunshine. You don’t have to explain what’s got you so upset. It doesn’t matter, all that matters is that you stop crying. He’s okay, just a few little scratches on his arm and a sore bottom. Nothing major.”
    Her eyes are half-lidded, glossed over, and glued on mine. As we hold one another’s gaze, she reminds me of a child pouting. Even her lower lip is slightly puckered out. There’s so much that this moment says about her. She’s vulnerable. Joshua brought that out today. This proves that there are more layers to this woman than she lets on. I want to peel them back, slowly, and reveal the real girl underneath. On the other hand, I want to know why she’s so guarded. Why she feels like crying is a sign of weakness. Using this moment, I collect a small piece of her puzzle.
    “Yeah, but it could have been worse…much, much worse.” She turns her head away as if she’s ashamed.
    Moving my hand up again, I place my index finger under her chin, and hold it in place with my thumb, gently tilting her head so she’s forced to look