Kindred by Adrianne Lemke

have a care in the world. It was nothing like how he looked when he was awake, always walking around like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. I ran my hand through his soft brown hair and wished…well, I wished I had been distracted for the reasons Rachel had suggested. There was no doubt that I thought Jason was attractive, but he was also very wounded. Mentally, emotionally and physically wounded.
    I didn’t think he’d be able to commit to an actual relationship until he sorted through some of his problems. I couldn’t have a relationship with him until he sorted through some problems. Maybe once he at least told me some of what was going through his head on any given day, I would feel like he was ready for something…more.
    He stirred in his sleep and I realized he was having a nightmare. He was obviously tired enough to sleep through me coming into his room. Or he recognized my footsteps even in his sleep and realized there was no threat. But now he was tossing and turning, groaning as if in pain before sitting up suddenly with a yell. “Jason, you’re okay,” I soothed as he looked around the room frantically, breaths coming in heavy gasps.
    He jumped when I sat on the bed next to him and started rubbing his back gently. It took several minutes, but he finally started to relax and his breathing went back to normal as he looked up at me. “Thanks.” His expression of gratitude turned into confusion. “What are you doing down here, Hannah?”
    “Alice told me what happened today, so I wanted to check on you. I was only down here for a little while before you started having a nightmare. Are you okay?”
    Jason shrugged; his eyes shadowed in the dim light coming from the hallway, making them seem hooded and secretive as he quietly said, “Yeah.” He rubbed his hand over his eyes wearily. “What time is it?” he asked.
    “It’s around seven,” I answered. “What were you dreaming about?”
    He glanced around the room for a few seconds and rubbed his face again, standing quickly. “I should probably eat something. Kinda skipped supper in favor of a nap.”
    “Sure,” I said, letting my question go as he headed up the stairs. Not like I had a choice. Any attempts to push would be ignored, or if I kept pushing, would result in anger. My anger or his, it didn’t matter. Either way it wouldn’t end well. For now, I’d have to let it go and hope he at least let Dustin know about it at their next session.
    I glanced around the basement room that held so many memories. I picked up the picture that sat on top of the desk. “What can I do, Gran?” I asked quietly. “He won’t talk to me anymore.” My grandmother’s influence was still prevalent in the small basement room, Jason’s things only taking up a small portion. Another sign he wasn’t completely comfortable with setting down roots. He hadn’t gathered much other than some new clothes and a few textbooks. It seemed like he was trying to keep to his rule of only keeping what he could carry with him, just in case he had to run again.
    Sam was different. He gathered toys, books, and more clothes in preparation to have a normal life. And Jason let him. He could let his little brother have a normal life, one where he didn’t have to run or fear for his life, but he seemed incapable of imagining such a life for himself.
    I shook my head and reminded myself that he was here. He was staying with us, and going to school, and trying to get over what had happened. Eventually he’d allow his lifestyle to mesh with his current situation. Once he realized we weren’t going anywhere and he didn’t have to either, he’d figure it out.
    “Are you coming up tonight?” Alice called from upstairs. “We’re going to watch some TV and just relax for the evening,” she continued as I walked up the steps to join her. “Sam will be going to bed soon; he has school in the morning.”
    I smiled. “He must be looking forward to that. It’s been a