my mum was able to learn that Lucas is well, even if his father has a lot of money in the last year because of some wrong investment. But that's not enough for me! I want to go back to Princeton! I should never have gone away! It's all my father's fault.”
“Your father was moved back to the USA embassy in Tokyo a year ago, wasn't he?”
“Yes, I prayed and begged him to leave me in Princeton. I was ready to go to college, but he didn't let me do it. The worst thing is that I was really sure I would stay there with Lucas. I had sworn to him that I would never leave him, instead...I don't know if he will be able to forgive me. He'll think I'm treacherous like his mother.”
“That's not your fault.”
“It's all my fault: each time Lucas feels pain, it's my fault, my parents are always quarrelling for my fault...” Kira burst out because she had noticed her parents' never ending night quarrels, when they believed she was sleeping in her bedroom. Leaving Princeton had been difficult for her mother too, because she had had to leave her job and her daughter was dejected and unrecognisable, so that had been a very bad blow for Elizabeth too.
“I've never seen our daughter crying so much, not even when she was a baby! Kenzo, I've been trying to make her stop for months! I was wrong to agree with you and leave Princeton. And what for? To turn into your mother's carer? Oh, Kenzo, this isn't the kind of life I wished for,” Elizabeth often complained.
“Tokyo is my home town and my wife should look after my mother which is a widower now and is alone. Besides, I've already told you to look for a part-time job, but only if you are able to look after our daughter. Being so often far away from you was a mistake. Kira clearly needs some discipline and moral rules” her husband kept telling her.
“What are you hinting at? Do you think I didn't match up my responsibilities towards her?”
“Should I remind you that our daughter hasn't spoken to me for months and is behaving very badly with everybody? Not to mention her bad marks at school! She didn't even pass her entrance examination at the International School and she is attending a very common Japanese school at the moment.”
“Kira has always been the best in her class! What did you expect from her? You suddenly dragged her away from her school, her friends and above all from Lucas! You know how much she cares about him!”
“You should call him a scapegrace!”
“It's not his fault if he has a father like that.”
“I don't care! Kira's life is here now and she must accept it!” her husband ended every time before leaving the house and slamming the door.
At the memory of those quarrels, Kira was carried away by a new torrent of tears.
Without uttering any other word, Adam made her sit down on a dusty chair and let her give vent to her feelings, till she stopped crying.
“I'm so sorry for what you are going through,” Adam burst into her thoughts. “I don't know what's happening to your friend, but I can tell you that you should put more trust in him, in my opinion.”
“I trust him!”
“So, stop considering him like the victim he used to be when you were children. He is growing up like you, so he will soon be able to protect himself from his father, you'll see.”
“But Lucas is so small and thin if compared to his father.”
“He probably used to be like that, but I'm sure he'll turn into a strong boy soon, capable of looking after himself.”
Kira looked at him with wide- open eyes. She had never thought that Lucas could be able to protect himself from that monster. In her mind, Lucas was still a small and slim nine-year-old child, covered in bruises and scratches. However, Adam was right: Lucas had grown up and had become stronger, even if that wasn't enough. At the moment.
“Thanks,” the girl mumbled softly, turning in her hands the handkerchief which was soaked with tears and mucus.
“No problem. I didn't feel like being lumbered with maths today,” Adam laughed, trying to play it down.
“Oh my God, school! I had science today,” Kira suddenly remembered when she looked at her watch. Almost an hour had gone by since she had run away to her secret shelter.
“I think you'd better wipe your face before going back to school, or your teacher will get worried.”
Kira smiled at him gratefully.
They walked to the door together.
“You aren't telling anyone what I said, are you?”
“Of course not!” Adam comforted her. Seeing her crying had been a sort of catharsis for him too, as well as something relieving, even if he hadn't shed any tear...almost.
He liked that girl. He had been able to feel her sensitivity and her sweetness during that short time.
He hadn't seen anybody crying for a friend till then.
She wanted to protect Lucas and defend him from life's injustice.
He wished he could have someone like her standing on his side as well!
“Can I ask you a question?” Kira asked him after a short while.
“Of course.”
“Why do you usually hide in the library too and sometimes cry?” she asked him with caution.
“What? I...?” Adam stammered uneasy.
“Yes, I saw you. But if you don't want to tell me, I'll understand.”
Adam sighed dejected and all the thoughts which had been haunting him since he had run away cropped up again violently in his mind.
How should he answer her?
“I think there is something different inside myself,” he said in a whisper, realizing the meaning of his own words for the first time.
***
Princeton, Kentucky, November 11th 2015
“I'm sorry, Mr Lucas,” Rosalinda, who had become the Scott family's ex- housekeeper, sighed sorrowfully.
“I'm sorry too,” Lucas mumbled gloomily, without raising his eyes from his homework. He couldn't stand that woman's tears. False tears. Crocodile ones. Female ones.
“You cry at first, then you betray and leave,” the boy wished he could shout at her, but he held back and grasped the pen violently, till he almost broke it.
“You don't need me any more here. Your house is small and your father doesn't want me” Rosalinda tried to justify herself.
“It's all right.”
“I'm so sorry.”
“What for? For seizing the opportunity and running away from a violent and drunkard master who often beats you too?” he wished he could answer.
“Enjoy my father's severance pay.”
“Mr Lucas, I didn't want to leave. I've stayed here all these years just for you...Things got worse after your mum's death, but I stayed here in spite of it all, even if I was never brave enough to revolt against Mr Scott.”
“Goodbye, Rosy,” Lucas stopped her as he couldn't stand that woman's words any more. She should go and relieve her conscience with someone else! He had to study, as he was sick of being teased for the way he read in front of other people, or for his poor marks, even if he tried hard to do better.
Since Kira had left, “his clever and sagacious mind” as she used to call it, seemed to have retired!
Kira...
If he just thought about her, he could feel his stomach churning till he had to bend down with spasms.
He