“Did I ever tell you the reason I wanted to become a first responder?” I asked.

“I can’t say you ever have.”

“When I was sixteen years old, I was emotionally exhausted from Todd’s shit, and physically exhausted from constantly having to fight off the real predators. I couldn’t handle it anymore. I thought ‘what’s the point of living a life where no one really cares about me?’” I paused as tears started rolling down my cheeks at the worst memory yet.

“Owen…” Roy’s voice sounded rough as he said my name.

“I stole Lewis’s dad’s gun, and ran away from their home. I was walking across a bridge in the middle of the night when I passed another guy who was just taking a late night stroll to enjoy the silence and fresh air. I sat down on the edge of the bridge, pulled out the gun, and just stared at it in my hands. I was scared, but I hated everything in my life at the time.” I sniffled loudly recalling the horrid thoughts that had been running through my mind back then. “That guy turned around, and came to sit right next to me. He didn’t say a word at first. Just sat quietly, and looked out over the water.”

“The moon looks beautiful shimmering on the water, doesn’t it?” The stranger asked me.

I looked up at the water, “I guess so.” I answered, confused at why this guy is sitting so close, with this weapon so clearly visible in my hands.

“My name is Lewy. What’s yours?” He introduced himself.

“Owen.”

“Well, Owen. You look kind of sad. Care to talk to an unbiased stranger?” He asked.

“No thank you.” I replied quickly. I just wanted him to leave me alone.

“Alright. That’s okay too. Mind if I just sit here for with you for a while then?”

“Do whatever you want.”

“Well, thanks. I’ve just been walking a long time, and I needed a little break. My feet are hurting something fierce.”

“Then why not just go home?”

“I would, but home is a bit aways, and I need that break before I can make it that far.” He told me.

“Whatever.”

“How old are you Owen?”

“That’s a bit personal to be telling a stranger.”

“I guess it is. I’m forty. Just turned forty recently.”

“Okay?”

“You look pretty young. You in high school still?”

“What does it matter?” I snapped.

“Oh I supposed it doesn’t really matter. Do you have a job?”

“No.”

“I do. I’m a paramedic.”

“So you save peoples lives? Is that what you think you’re doing now?”

“Hm. No. I think if you’ve already made your decision, you’ll do whatever you want regardless of what some random stranger says to you. I just could use an ear to chat to tonight.”

“Well I don’t want to chat.” I could hear my teenage snarkiness.

“That’s fine, Owen. You don’t have to talk. But would you listen to me for a little while?” He asked me.

“Do you make a habit of this sort of thing?”

“Actually, no. I don’t. This would be a first for me.”

I let out a sigh. He wasn’t going to go away, and I knew that. “Fine.”

“So you see, thing is, I’m having a rough time at work. We recently lost a patient on the way to the hospital due to an error one of my younger guys made. Poor kid is just beside himself with guilt. But when I think about it, isn’t it really my fault for not having taught him better?” Lewy paused and waited for me to answer.

“What was the mistake?”

“I guess he didn’t attach the monitor correctly, and he missed the signs of a heart attack. Honestly, I have no idea how it happened. It wasn’t my shift so I wasn’t the one with him when it happened. I read the report, but it doesn’t really tell me what happened. Just that the patient had a heart attack and died. Not very helpful.”

“Sounds like a shitty way to get fired.” I said flatly.

“I does, doesn’t it?” Lewy said. “But now I’m trying to make sure I teach everyone the right way to attach all the different types of monitors. I hold classes every week. I even leave them open to the public, so anyone can join them.” He told me.

“Good for you.”

“Want to know something else?”

“What?”

“We now have special training programs to help teach high schoolers how to become EMT’s. And it’s actually a lot of fun. High schoolers from all over the state participate in the program, and meet new people, and some of them are even given the opportunity to leave home and join an out of state program to further their career path. Maybe that might something that could help you?” He suggested, watching me closely now.

“Why would I –“

“To escape whatever is making you feel like this,” he pointed to the gun in my hand, “is the answer to you problems. I don’t know about other hospitals, but I do know ours is willing to pay to move you out of state if you stay in the program. We won’t house you, but we do pay nice, you should be able to afford a small apartment, or at the very least half rent if you split costs with a roommate.” Lewy explained.

“Escape?” I looked up at him, tears in my eyes. “I can escape this place? They won’t be able to hurt me anymore?”

“I can’t speak for people you may meet in the future… but if you keep it secret, no one can follow you, and the people here will never be able to hurt you again.” He told me. A sudden wave a relief and hope rushed over my body. I had a choice to leave now!

“How long does it take to be able to leave?” I asked in a rushed way.

“You have to be at least eighteen. Or emancipated.”

“I’M EMANCIPATED!” I shouted excitedly.

“So. Does it sound like something that might interest you?” He asked again.

“Yes. Very much so.” I told him, crying tears of a joy I haven’t felt in years.

“Amazing. How about this, Owen. You come to the health center tomorrow. We can talk details better when it’s not so late. Go home, get some rest, and come see me in the morning. Sound like a plan?” He asked me.

“The best plan.” I jumped up quickly, ready to bolt home. Lewy stood up too, and I grabbed him into a hug, “Thank you so much.” I sobbed into his chest.

“Owen?” He pushed me away and held me an arm’s length away to be able to look me in the eyes. “Please, please, please, put this gun back where you got it from. You have a beautiful life waiting for you to find it, so don’t waste it because you’ve reached a rough patch. Make something of yourself, and prove these sad, pathetic morons that you are better than them. Okay?”

I nodded my head, and sobbed more.

Roy sat in silence for a really long time, as he took in everything I’d just told him. I was scared for how he might respond. When I looked at his face, I could see the pain in his eyes.

“Want to know something funny?” I asked him.

He just looked at me, without saying anything.

“A couple years after I got here, I found out Lewy lied to me about the program paying for things. It was him who paid to move me out of that town. He bought me a plane ticket, helped me find a place to live, help get me set up with the EMT training program at the hospital here. He did everything on his own dime. All of it.” I smiled at the memory. “And even more funny, I came to find out that Lewy is Lewis’s uncle.” I laughed, mostly to myself. “I’ve never been more grateful to a family than I am toward Lewis and his family.”

“Me either.” Roy finally spoke, but his voice was hard, like he was trying not to cry.

“Don’t cry, Roy. I mean, aside from the nightmares, I’m okay now. I found my people.” I nudged him with my shoulder playfully.

“I don’t even have words to express how heartbreaking it is to hear your story. The idea that if Lewy hadn’t been there that night, I’d never have had the chance to meet you, and neither would Markus… God. Markus. You know, I’ve never seen that man be in love with someone before, but it’s clear he loves you more than life itself. Are you going to tell him all of this?”

I took a deep, hiccupped breath, “I know I should… especially now that I’ve told you.”

“You should tell him, but do it when you’re ready.”

Roy looked at me. Then pulled me into the tightest hug I’d ever been given. I could barely breathe.

“You’re… crushing… my… lungs…” I forced out. He released me, I took in a much needed deep breath.

“I just want you know how much I love you okay? And I know Vincent loves you too. And Markus. And Mama. You have a lot of people here who love you, and who would be there for you if you need someone to cry with or talk to. Okay?”

“I know. I’m beyond grateful to have met everyone here, and to be able to call you all my chosen family.” I smiled at him. “I’ll tell Markus. I’ll tell him everything tonight. Can you bring Vincent over too, so I can talk to him at the same time?”

“Of course I will.”

After another hour or so, we drove back to my apartment. I got in my car and went straight to Markus’s house. Roy and Vincent got there only a few minutes after me. We all sat in the living room, and I nervously told them everything I’d told Roy today.