I see you

Logan looked at him wordlessly.

„Um… Are you okay…?" Dan smiled at him nervously.

„You're alive."

„Yes, sometimes I'm surprised too."

„Danny… You're alive." Logan gasped. Suddenly everything felt hot. His limbs were numb, his senses distorted by the outside world.

„Logan?" Dan reached for his hands but he pulled away nervously. Logan looked at his fingers and, as if he didn't believe they were real, he moved them. He took a deep breath, but he just choked desperately. Dan soon realized what was happening. He knelt in front of the Logan and started to stroke his trembling hands.

„You are going to be fine. You have a panic attack. There were too many stimulations. It happens, but you are going to be fine. Do you know what your name is?"

„Logan… Logan Zakuro."

„Great! Now tell me what you see. List five things, okay?"

"Wardrobe… Window…" Logan could barely see Dan's face because of his tears. „You. I see you, Danny. You."

„Okay, great. This was three, but I guess math is not your strength. What day is it?"

„Tuesday." Logan began to breathe more evenly.

„You are doing so good. I'll get you some water, okay?" Dan stood up.

„No!" Logan gasped for air. „Please do not go."

„I'll be back, you need a drink." The grip around Dan's hand eased. „I'm just filling my bottle. In the meantime, I'm going to talk." Dan went into the bathroom, and continued talking. „So, you convinced me, Logan. Come ove. Mom will be happy too." "He sounded a bit doubtful ont he latter. "Rosa's daughter, Daniella, was born a year ago. She named her after me! She's a very cute little girl, she doesn't even cry so much." He handed the water bottle to Logan. „You see, I'm already here. Can you drink Or should I help?" Logan took the bottle, giving him a clear signal that drinking with help is a no-go.

Logan leaned on his knees and took deep breaths. Dan couldn't see his face, but he knew he was crying. Until now, did Logan thought he was dead? But who is this he really? What was between them? Why did he think he was dead? Why didn't Dan's mother ever mention him? Too many questions circulated madly in his head, but Logan didn't seem too able to answer.

"I have to do one more thing before we go, will you wait for me here?" Logan nodded silently. He couldn't look at Dan.

***

Dan returned within minutes. He had put the pregnancy test in their shared closet with Annie, thinking and she will find it there. She didn't want Dan to be there when she did the test. They will call each other in the evening.

"I brought you a sweater, I found it in my closet." He handed Logan a red sweater.

„Thanks." The other boy took it without looking at Dan. „Shall we go?"

„Your stuff is in the classroom, isn't that a problem?"

„I do not care."

„All right, suit yourself.

Dan crashed into a concrete wall, regarding Logan. Openness ceased, as if they were strangers. Actually they really were, according to Dan.

"Logan…" he turned to the boy walking with his head down next to him. „Who are you? Or who are we?"

„Do we have to do this now?" Logan snapped. "I have no idea what's going on, I have no idea who I am or who were we, or why are we here now. For years, I thought you were dead. I was sure."

„… Sorry…?"

„Why are you apologizing?„

„Well, you seem to be angry because I'm alive."

„I'm not mad at you, you dummy." Logan buried his face in his hands.

„Well Then?"

„I am angry at everyone else. At myself, Isaac, your mom, your siblings."

"You know, I don't understand a word you're saying. If you could explain the situation, we could be angry together!"

Logan didn't respond, just suddenly took a sharp left turn.

„Follow me."

„Aren't we going to my lace now?"

"I need to pick up a few things from home."

„Do you live close?"

„A few hundred meters away." Logan walked across an alley. If they meet Isaac here face to face, they're both dead. No one was in the narrow street, he sighed calmly.

„Okay, wait here. Logan pointed to the end of the alley. „I'll be back. Don't talk to anyone. Don't look at anyone too conspicuously."

"Jesus, are you a mobster?"

Logan glared at him, then headed for a small white house. Dan could see the boy peeking through the windows and then sneaking carefully in the door. What could he be so afraid of? Curiously, he took a few steps closer to see through the windows. He squinted as he approached the house when he collided with someone.