sjbouza
05-13-2007, 04:38 PM
This is a short story that was written by my boyfriend. It made me cry when I first read it and it continues to do the same each and every time. I hope you enjoy it. You may want a box of kleenex close by.
VOICES
by Alexander M
The waves crashed hard against the jagged rocks below. The young man
stood at the edge of the overlooking cliff, staring ahead to his only
answer. If he jumped, it would all be over. He would no longer be able to
hurt the ones he loved. That one jump would make those eleven years of
nightmares disappear forever. It was time; he would make that final
leap. He would take flight and find his salvation.
Caleb awoke with a start, as drenched as if he had just walked in from
the rain. Nightmares had plagued the young man of 16 since he was a
small child. He was never able to get much from them, but he could never
forget them. To this day he could still recall the first dream in vivid
detail.
Be a good little boy. The voice rang loud and clear in his mind. Be a
good little boy and don’t make a sound. Never say a word. The voice
commended him from deep within his mind. As the voice danced around his
head, he could feel someone grasping his throat so hard, Caleb thought
his head would pop off. This is always how the dreams would progress.
Never any more or any less. The command would be made and the owner of the
voice would make his point by choking Caleb, almost as if to insure
that the boy would never speak again. If that was the desired effect, it
had worked. Caleb had obeyed the voice since the first nightmare when he
was only five years old. No sound had passed the young man’s lips in
eleven years.
It’s not as if Caleb wanted to be under some vow of silence, it just
wasn’t that simple. Caleb wished he could speak out and disobey his
invisible predator. He wanted to be able to scream out and yell in triumph.
The words just never came. Caleb was no safer from this man in the
waking world than he was in the dream world. The grip was still tight
around his throat and he couldn’t do anything about it. This was Caleb’s
life. This is how things had been for the past eleven years and they
showed no signs of changing.
Seth walked into school with a mission this morning. He had received
an S.O.S text message from his pal Caleb an had to find him A.S.A.P. He
had to find Caleb, save him from whichever heartless freak was messing
with him this morning and still make it to his first class on time to
pass his exam. Quite a task to accomplish in ten minutes. Seth didn’t
think anything of it though, he would climb to the moon and back for
Caleb if he had to.
Seth’s instincts took him to the bathroom near Caleb’s first class. He
was soon proven correct as he stepped into the off-white tile room.
The familiar chant could be heard echoing through the room.
“Speak! Say something already.” Caleb sat there helpless as his
antagonist continued his verbal assault. Caleb’s silence was only fueling his
assailant’s anger. “I guess I’ll have to make you talk.”
“Get away from him!” Seth closed the distance between him and Caleb’s
attacker. He was hoping that he wouldn’t have to actually fight this
one. However, he was ready to go if it came to that. “Leave him alone if
you know what’s good for you.” The bully contemplated his options and
decided it just wasn’t worth it anymore. He left quickly, leaving Caleb
and Seth to themselves.
“Caleb, are you alright? Did he hurt you?” Caleb looked up and Seth
knew immediately that he was ok. There was an unspoken language between
the two boys. Seth knew the little looks Caleb got in his eyes and what
they meant. It was how they communicated their whole friendship. Caleb
made direct eye contact with Seth (Thank you) then lowered his head and
began to dust himself off.
“No problem, you know I would do anything for you.” With that, Caleb
got up and left for his first class. The bell rang, signifying that
there was only two minutes left until class started. Seth knew he would be
late for his exam. His class was on the other side of the building;
none of this mattered to Seth. The only thin going through his mind was
that Caleb was safe. That was all that mattered.
The rain splashed against the car windows as Caleb and his mother made
their was to Caleb’s therapist. Caleb had been in therapy for as long
as he could remember. Janice, Caleb’s mother, had been desperately
trying to understand her only son’s silence. They had been to many
therapists over the years and they all had different methods of trying to get
Caleb to talk. When this all began, one suggested that Janice should give
nothing to her son unless he verbally asked for it. This would have put
Caleb in the hospital fast as he refused to ask for food. Other
suggestions were positive and negative reinforcement, teaching him sign
language and so on. Many people have asked why Caleb doesn’t just communicate
through writing. Along with not speaking, Caleb just does not
communicate. The only person that he has made written communication to,
unbeknownst to Janice, was Seth. It was never much: a quick SOS or a location
where Caleb could be found. It was the most Caleb had communicated with
anyone through this whole ordeal.
Even though all of the therapists had completely different methods of
handling things, they all agreed on one thing: There was something that
happened to Caleb that was causing his detachment. The problem was,
since Caleb wouldn’t talk, there was little that could be done to figure
out what was wrong. Dream analysis and free association are made quite
difficult when there is no response from the patient; something that was
aggravating Caleb’s newest therapist to no end.
“There is nothing I can do anymore.” The doctor sat across from
Janice, trying to put nicely what he had to say. “Your son is a hopeless
cause. I have tried everything I can think of to get him to talk. My
colleagues have done the same for him and have come up empty handed as well.
I am asking you to leave and not to seek any of our help anymore. Your
son is a lost cause.”
Janice was shocked that she was even having this conversation. “How
can you say that to me? I come asking you for help and you turn me away?”
“Please, just leave.” Janice was mortified. The embarrassment of being
rejected therapy for her son. The embarrassment quickly turned to anger
towards the pompous man. Her anger came out on the car ride home,
targeted right at Caleb.
“How could you do this to me Caleb? I have done everything for you. Is
this some sick cry for attention?” Although it was not truly visible,
her words were leaving a mark on Caleb. “Eleven years is long enough. If
you’re trying to punish me then it worked.” Caleb couldn’t take it
anymore. He was tired of hurting people he cared about. His mother was
furious because of him. Seth was constantly pulled from whatever it was
that he was doing just to save Caleb. He couldn’t stand it anymore. At the
next light, Caleb bolted from the car and ran through the rain. “Caleb,
get back here this instant!” He didn’t turn back; he kept running as
far as his legs would take them.
Apart, the dreams never made much sense. As Caleb was running through
the rain, he started to piece a few things together. There were times
when he would just hear the voice and feel that death grip around his
neck. However, sometimes there would be a greater focus on the man. The
man who took away these eleven years of his life. He was doing something
to Caleb, something Caleb knew was wrong. Through all of the reassuring
talk that the man used, Caleb knew that there were no good intentions
coming from this man. He wanted something from Caleb, something he
wasn’t supposed to take. Caleb’s insides churned as he came to the
realization of what had been going on. These were no mere dreams, they were
memories. It was all coming back to him. The man, the voice, the grip, it
was all real. The fear of this realization was too much for Caleb to
handle. He had to escape this waking nightmare.
Seth sat alone in the local coffee shop just staring out at the rain.
He found himself thinking about Caleb and his relationship with the
silent boy. Seth had always felt a strong connection to Caleb. From the
moment that they first met, Seth wanted to do whatever he could to
protect him. He didn’t know why he felt this strongly towards Caleb. Could it
be that he…no, it couldn’t be that. He couldn’t have feelings like that
for Caleb, could he?
Even if he did, it would never work. As close as the two boys had
become, Seth was still not able to get physically close to Caleb. Even a
slight hug put the young man on edge. Not to mention the fact that there
was no possible way Caleb would reciprocate the feelings. It just
wouldn’t happen.
Just then, out of the corner of his eye, Seth could see Caleb running
down the road. What is he doing? Just then, Seth could see the look on
Caleb’s face. Caleb was deeply distressed. Seth bolted for the door as
fast as he could, trying his hardest to make it to Caleb in time.
The waves crashed hard against the jagged rocks below. Caleb stood
at the edge of the overlooking cliff, staring ahead to his only answer.
If he jumped, it would all be over. He would no longer be able to hurt
the ones he loved. That one jump would make those eleven years of
nightmares disappear forever. It was time; he would make that final leap. He
would take flight and find his salvation.
Tears were streaming down his face. He wished that he could see Seth
one more time. It was for the best that he didn’t have that opportunity
though. Caleb only hurt those around him. He was tired of inflicting
that pain on Seth, he was too good for that.
As Caleb made that first step, he could feel his body preparing to
fall. Just then, it was as if time had stopped. He had stopped falling and
he was stuck staring into the watery depths. Just then, Caleb could
feel the pull on his shirt and the voice belonging to Seth called out.
“Hold on Caleb, I’m not letting you go!” Seth gave one tight tug and
pulled Caleb back onto the cliff.
When the boys settled down onto the ground, Caleb began to silently
cry. His tears came out hard and fast. Seth couldn’t stand to see him in
pain and embraced the crying teen. To Seth’s surprise, there was no
resistance from Caleb, it was almost as if he were welcoming the physical
contact. He couldn’t hold it in any longer; he had to tell him.
“Caleb, there’s something that I need to tell you. Seeing what you
tried to do just now has made me realize something. Since the first day we
met I have wanted to do whatever I could for you. Now, it think I know
why. Caleb, I love you.” Tears were now erupting from Seth’s eyes. He
could not believe what he had just done. “I don’t know how you feel and
I know you can’t talk. I just need you to know how I feel. I don’t know
what I’d do if you left me.” Not expecting any response from Caleb,
Seth just sat there and maintained the embrace. He was not prepared to
hear an unfamiliar voice ring through his head.
“I love you Seth.”
Caleb had only one more nightmare after this. The man was still there
with his same old tricks. It ended different this time though. Caleb
was able to yell out. He screamed as hard as he could, defying the
command of the voice. As the voice from the man died, Caleb’s grew stronger.
As the man began to fade, Seth came into view. Seth was truly Caleb’s
dream come true. Caleb still had trouble dealing with people, but he was
speaking loud and clear now. He had found his voice and the nightmares
never plagued him again.
VOICES
by Alexander M
The waves crashed hard against the jagged rocks below. The young man
stood at the edge of the overlooking cliff, staring ahead to his only
answer. If he jumped, it would all be over. He would no longer be able to
hurt the ones he loved. That one jump would make those eleven years of
nightmares disappear forever. It was time; he would make that final
leap. He would take flight and find his salvation.
Caleb awoke with a start, as drenched as if he had just walked in from
the rain. Nightmares had plagued the young man of 16 since he was a
small child. He was never able to get much from them, but he could never
forget them. To this day he could still recall the first dream in vivid
detail.
Be a good little boy. The voice rang loud and clear in his mind. Be a
good little boy and don’t make a sound. Never say a word. The voice
commended him from deep within his mind. As the voice danced around his
head, he could feel someone grasping his throat so hard, Caleb thought
his head would pop off. This is always how the dreams would progress.
Never any more or any less. The command would be made and the owner of the
voice would make his point by choking Caleb, almost as if to insure
that the boy would never speak again. If that was the desired effect, it
had worked. Caleb had obeyed the voice since the first nightmare when he
was only five years old. No sound had passed the young man’s lips in
eleven years.
It’s not as if Caleb wanted to be under some vow of silence, it just
wasn’t that simple. Caleb wished he could speak out and disobey his
invisible predator. He wanted to be able to scream out and yell in triumph.
The words just never came. Caleb was no safer from this man in the
waking world than he was in the dream world. The grip was still tight
around his throat and he couldn’t do anything about it. This was Caleb’s
life. This is how things had been for the past eleven years and they
showed no signs of changing.
Seth walked into school with a mission this morning. He had received
an S.O.S text message from his pal Caleb an had to find him A.S.A.P. He
had to find Caleb, save him from whichever heartless freak was messing
with him this morning and still make it to his first class on time to
pass his exam. Quite a task to accomplish in ten minutes. Seth didn’t
think anything of it though, he would climb to the moon and back for
Caleb if he had to.
Seth’s instincts took him to the bathroom near Caleb’s first class. He
was soon proven correct as he stepped into the off-white tile room.
The familiar chant could be heard echoing through the room.
“Speak! Say something already.” Caleb sat there helpless as his
antagonist continued his verbal assault. Caleb’s silence was only fueling his
assailant’s anger. “I guess I’ll have to make you talk.”
“Get away from him!” Seth closed the distance between him and Caleb’s
attacker. He was hoping that he wouldn’t have to actually fight this
one. However, he was ready to go if it came to that. “Leave him alone if
you know what’s good for you.” The bully contemplated his options and
decided it just wasn’t worth it anymore. He left quickly, leaving Caleb
and Seth to themselves.
“Caleb, are you alright? Did he hurt you?” Caleb looked up and Seth
knew immediately that he was ok. There was an unspoken language between
the two boys. Seth knew the little looks Caleb got in his eyes and what
they meant. It was how they communicated their whole friendship. Caleb
made direct eye contact with Seth (Thank you) then lowered his head and
began to dust himself off.
“No problem, you know I would do anything for you.” With that, Caleb
got up and left for his first class. The bell rang, signifying that
there was only two minutes left until class started. Seth knew he would be
late for his exam. His class was on the other side of the building;
none of this mattered to Seth. The only thin going through his mind was
that Caleb was safe. That was all that mattered.
The rain splashed against the car windows as Caleb and his mother made
their was to Caleb’s therapist. Caleb had been in therapy for as long
as he could remember. Janice, Caleb’s mother, had been desperately
trying to understand her only son’s silence. They had been to many
therapists over the years and they all had different methods of trying to get
Caleb to talk. When this all began, one suggested that Janice should give
nothing to her son unless he verbally asked for it. This would have put
Caleb in the hospital fast as he refused to ask for food. Other
suggestions were positive and negative reinforcement, teaching him sign
language and so on. Many people have asked why Caleb doesn’t just communicate
through writing. Along with not speaking, Caleb just does not
communicate. The only person that he has made written communication to,
unbeknownst to Janice, was Seth. It was never much: a quick SOS or a location
where Caleb could be found. It was the most Caleb had communicated with
anyone through this whole ordeal.
Even though all of the therapists had completely different methods of
handling things, they all agreed on one thing: There was something that
happened to Caleb that was causing his detachment. The problem was,
since Caleb wouldn’t talk, there was little that could be done to figure
out what was wrong. Dream analysis and free association are made quite
difficult when there is no response from the patient; something that was
aggravating Caleb’s newest therapist to no end.
“There is nothing I can do anymore.” The doctor sat across from
Janice, trying to put nicely what he had to say. “Your son is a hopeless
cause. I have tried everything I can think of to get him to talk. My
colleagues have done the same for him and have come up empty handed as well.
I am asking you to leave and not to seek any of our help anymore. Your
son is a lost cause.”
Janice was shocked that she was even having this conversation. “How
can you say that to me? I come asking you for help and you turn me away?”
“Please, just leave.” Janice was mortified. The embarrassment of being
rejected therapy for her son. The embarrassment quickly turned to anger
towards the pompous man. Her anger came out on the car ride home,
targeted right at Caleb.
“How could you do this to me Caleb? I have done everything for you. Is
this some sick cry for attention?” Although it was not truly visible,
her words were leaving a mark on Caleb. “Eleven years is long enough. If
you’re trying to punish me then it worked.” Caleb couldn’t take it
anymore. He was tired of hurting people he cared about. His mother was
furious because of him. Seth was constantly pulled from whatever it was
that he was doing just to save Caleb. He couldn’t stand it anymore. At the
next light, Caleb bolted from the car and ran through the rain. “Caleb,
get back here this instant!” He didn’t turn back; he kept running as
far as his legs would take them.
Apart, the dreams never made much sense. As Caleb was running through
the rain, he started to piece a few things together. There were times
when he would just hear the voice and feel that death grip around his
neck. However, sometimes there would be a greater focus on the man. The
man who took away these eleven years of his life. He was doing something
to Caleb, something Caleb knew was wrong. Through all of the reassuring
talk that the man used, Caleb knew that there were no good intentions
coming from this man. He wanted something from Caleb, something he
wasn’t supposed to take. Caleb’s insides churned as he came to the
realization of what had been going on. These were no mere dreams, they were
memories. It was all coming back to him. The man, the voice, the grip, it
was all real. The fear of this realization was too much for Caleb to
handle. He had to escape this waking nightmare.
Seth sat alone in the local coffee shop just staring out at the rain.
He found himself thinking about Caleb and his relationship with the
silent boy. Seth had always felt a strong connection to Caleb. From the
moment that they first met, Seth wanted to do whatever he could to
protect him. He didn’t know why he felt this strongly towards Caleb. Could it
be that he…no, it couldn’t be that. He couldn’t have feelings like that
for Caleb, could he?
Even if he did, it would never work. As close as the two boys had
become, Seth was still not able to get physically close to Caleb. Even a
slight hug put the young man on edge. Not to mention the fact that there
was no possible way Caleb would reciprocate the feelings. It just
wouldn’t happen.
Just then, out of the corner of his eye, Seth could see Caleb running
down the road. What is he doing? Just then, Seth could see the look on
Caleb’s face. Caleb was deeply distressed. Seth bolted for the door as
fast as he could, trying his hardest to make it to Caleb in time.
The waves crashed hard against the jagged rocks below. Caleb stood
at the edge of the overlooking cliff, staring ahead to his only answer.
If he jumped, it would all be over. He would no longer be able to hurt
the ones he loved. That one jump would make those eleven years of
nightmares disappear forever. It was time; he would make that final leap. He
would take flight and find his salvation.
Tears were streaming down his face. He wished that he could see Seth
one more time. It was for the best that he didn’t have that opportunity
though. Caleb only hurt those around him. He was tired of inflicting
that pain on Seth, he was too good for that.
As Caleb made that first step, he could feel his body preparing to
fall. Just then, it was as if time had stopped. He had stopped falling and
he was stuck staring into the watery depths. Just then, Caleb could
feel the pull on his shirt and the voice belonging to Seth called out.
“Hold on Caleb, I’m not letting you go!” Seth gave one tight tug and
pulled Caleb back onto the cliff.
When the boys settled down onto the ground, Caleb began to silently
cry. His tears came out hard and fast. Seth couldn’t stand to see him in
pain and embraced the crying teen. To Seth’s surprise, there was no
resistance from Caleb, it was almost as if he were welcoming the physical
contact. He couldn’t hold it in any longer; he had to tell him.
“Caleb, there’s something that I need to tell you. Seeing what you
tried to do just now has made me realize something. Since the first day we
met I have wanted to do whatever I could for you. Now, it think I know
why. Caleb, I love you.” Tears were now erupting from Seth’s eyes. He
could not believe what he had just done. “I don’t know how you feel and
I know you can’t talk. I just need you to know how I feel. I don’t know
what I’d do if you left me.” Not expecting any response from Caleb,
Seth just sat there and maintained the embrace. He was not prepared to
hear an unfamiliar voice ring through his head.
“I love you Seth.”
Caleb had only one more nightmare after this. The man was still there
with his same old tricks. It ended different this time though. Caleb
was able to yell out. He screamed as hard as he could, defying the
command of the voice. As the voice from the man died, Caleb’s grew stronger.
As the man began to fade, Seth came into view. Seth was truly Caleb’s
dream come true. Caleb still had trouble dealing with people, but he was
speaking loud and clear now. He had found his voice and the nightmares
never plagued him again.