Truth

"Alright, Matt?"

I'm nervous. My mind has gone over, imagining, what he wants to tell me. None of the scenarios I've imagined have been good.

Matt looks up from his pint and places a smile on his face. It's for my benefit, to show that he's still able to smile despite it all. I don't know much about his life outside of our recent conversations but I know he has something, someone, a family to go back to after our chat. Lucky bastard.

"Want another?" I ask and he shakes his head.

"Na, I got to drive back. Can't afford to lose my license." I go to turn and he says, "I'll have some crisps though," and I smile and head to the bar.

When I come back, we sit like we did before, eating and sipping our drinks.

"So," he finally says, and looks directly at me. His eyes search mine and he must see my curiosity mixed with fear of what he is going to confess and he falters. He raises his glass and says, "To Mark" as a toast and I repeat his words and do the same with my Coke.

Silence descends again and it is my turn to speak. The lurking tension pokes at my nerves, making me jittery, my legs jiggling.

"So," I find myself saying and it is the invitation that Matt needs.

"I find it difficult...to talk about that day," he opens.

I nod.

"But there's something that you ought to know about..." He trails off but I know what he's talking about.

"What do you remember?" and he looks at me, enquiringly, eyes kind but hurting.

"I remember "Tag"." He nods. "I remember Laney being so fast." I whisper her name. He smiles, knowingly, remembering too. "I remember getting frustrated. I was too slow. Out of puff. Always was a bit of a chubber." Matt laughs lightly at this and I see him as his ten year old self, briefly, like time has rent itself.

"Mark was getting...annoyed," and at this, Matt lowers his eyes.

"Yeah, he was," and, like a flash, the truth arrives but if I'm honest with myself, I always knew.

Mark pushed her.

***

366 words

Lana, I think it was you who guessed this. It's back to the past for the next one to see how it all happened.

This is all started here:

Here's yesterday's:

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