Chapter 26 - The long sleeves
At fifteen, Eli wore long sleeves again.
July.
Ninety degrees.
My entire body noticed.
I almost asked immediately.
Then stopped.
He was leaving for a movie.
“Hot outfit.”
He looked at me.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
He pulled at the sleeve.
Then laughed.
“It’s air conditioning.”
The exact excuse from years earlier.
My face must have changed.
He saw.
“Oh.”
“Yeah.”
He rolled the sleeve up himself.
No bruises.
A temporary tattoo from his friend’s birthday.
“See?”
“I see.”
“Dad.”
“Sorry.”
He rolled it down.
Then:
“You can ask.”
“What?”
“If you’re worried.”
I swallowed.
“Okay. Are you safe?”
“Yes.”
“Anything you need help with?”
“No.”
“Okay.”
He walked toward the door.
Then turned.
“That better?”
“Yes.”
“Cool.”
He left.
No interrogation.
No demand to prove.
Concern can exist without ownership.
May you like
That was the lesson I had taken longest to learn.
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