The Redemption of Callie & Kayden

knife onto the table. “Seth, why would someone have rubber bands on their wrist?”
    He shrugs as the waitress walks up to the table with the bill. He takes it from her and she smiles at him.
    “Thanks for coming in.” She coils a strand of her blonde hair around her finger as she chomps on her gum and tries to dazzle him. “I hope you’ll come back.”
    Seth shakes his head as he reaches his hand into his pocket to get his wallet. “As much as I loved the pancakes, I probably won’t be coming back.” It’s his attempt to politely turn the waitress down.
    She pouts out her lip and takes the bill and Seth’s credit card when he offers it to her. “Well, okay then.” She pierces me with a death glare, and then stomps off in her bubblegum-pink pumps and matching waitress uniform.
    “You know, I’m starting to wonder about the female sex,” Seth remarks as he sets his wallet down on the table. “Always looking for love in the wrong places.”
    “Am I included on that list?” I sip my orange juice and then place the empty glass back on the table.
    He rolls his eyes like it’s the most ridiculous thing he’s ever heard. “Absolutely not, darling. You just need a better way to approach it.” He fiddles with his watch, twisting it around and around as he watches the time. “Why did you ask that question about the rubber bands?”
    I circle my fingers around my wrist and rotate my arm. “Because Kayden had a whole bunch on his wrist.”
    Seth thrums his fingers on the table and then his brow knits. He retrieves his phone from his pocket and runs his finger along the screen before typing something in.
    “What are you doing?” I ask, reaching for my purse.
    He holds up a finger as he taps the screen. “Just a sec.”
    I take out a few dollar bills and lay them on the table for a tip, then drop my wallet back to my purse. I eye the waitress over at the counter who’s whispering something to another waitress. They both glance over and glare at me like I’m the devil.
    “I think they think I’m your girlfriend,” I say, slumping down in the chair.
    Seth glances at them, then shrugs and starts reading the screen again. “Then it was really wrong of her to hit on me.”
    “I guess so.” I direct my attention to the flurry of snow outside. It’s everywhere, white and crisp and completely innocent looking as it shines under the sun. It’s a false innocence though, because the icy roads here have caused many accidents and taken many lives.
    Seth slaps his hand down on the table and the ice in the glass shakes as I jump, startled. “I knew it sounded familiar,” he mutters. Shaking his head, he puts his phone down on the table. “I know what the rubber bands are for.”
    “What?” I sit up in my seat.
    He reaches across the table and takes my hand in his. “It’s a form of treatment used on cutters and people who self-mutilate.”
    I already knew that Kayden might have hurt himself, but now it seems real. I slip my hand out of Seth’s and fold my arms over my stomach as I curl inward. “I don’t feel good.”
    “Callie, it’ll be okay,” he reassures me and seeks my hand again.
    I recoil, shaking my head as I get to my feet. I feel the vile burn in my stomach and it aches like a forming bruise. “I need to use the restroom.” Before he can respond, I get up and run across the café, bumping into one of the waitresses on my way there. I knock her tray out of her hand and feel bad, but I don’t have time to apologize.
    As I run passed the counter, where Luke is sitting, I hear him call out, “Callie… what’s wrong?”
    I don’t respond. I need to get it out.
Now
. I need to get rid of the vile feeling in the pit of my stomach.
    I slam my hand against the door and fling it open. I run to the nearest stall and collapse to my knees. I start to shove my finger down my throat, when suddenly I see Kayden lying on the floor. Helpless. He needs help. He needs someone who can help him. It hits me hard, like a kick to the stomach, what I need to do. Maybe I can change that wish I’m always dreaming about, the one where I erase everything that happened to me on my twelfth birthday. I might not be able to take away Kayden’s past pain, but maybe I can help with his future pain. I just need to be strong. I move my finger out from my mouth and it’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. I’m shaking and sweating as I sit back and lean against the wall, letting my head fall back.