Shawn

    "Rebecca, I'm so sorry. Come here," Shawn whispered, putting his arms around me. I left myself curled up, but leaned into his embrace. "Shhh, it's gonna be okay, hon."
    "No, it won't!" I cried, my body racking with tears even harder. My breath was coming in gasps, and my chest hurt.
    Shawn held me tightly, rubbed my back and kept whispering soothing words until my tears were reduced to shaky hiccups. "A little better?"
    "Not so much, but I don't think there are tears left in my body." I wiped my eyes and sat up, pulling away from Shawn.
    "Do you want to talk about it?" he asked softly, holding my hand.
    I let him. I knew he liked me, and I knew it was wrong to lead him on. But I needed the intimacy. "I don't know what to say. It's not like we didn't see it coming. She's been sick for years. And then my dad woke up this morning, and she wasn't in bed. So he went up to the living room, because she likes to watch TV up there when she can't sleep. And my mom was asleep on the couch, but when he went to wake her up, he said she was ice cold. And he tried to shake her and call to her and she wouldn't wake up, Shawn. She just kept laying there, not breathing, not moving, nothing," I wailed, as the tears flooded my eyes again.
    Without a word, Shawn pulled me to him again. "No one should ever have to go through this pain. And no 13-year-old girl deserves to be without her mother."
    "So much for comforting words, Shawn," I snapped angrily. "I know I should have my mother. But I won't, not ever again. She's gone."
    "You aren't friends with me so I can lie to you to make you feel better. You're friends with me because I tell you the truth and because I care about you."
    I knew he was right. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you. I don't know what to do."
    He moved so he was in front of me, facing me straight on. "You need to cry. You need to get all the emotion out of you, and then you need to be strong for your father. They got along better than most couples did, having been married as long as they were. Your father must be hurting just as much as you, if not more." He grabbed my hands. "You're strong, Rebecca, but you aren't Superwoman." Shawn stood and pulled me up with him, walking away, still holding my hand. "I love you, and if you need anything, you know I'm here."
    "I know. Thank you." Shawn stopped walking and pulled me against his chest. I let myself rest my head there for a few seconds before pulling away and smiling at him. He leaned down to kiss me, and I turned my head to the side. "Shawn," I warned. He sighed and let me go, walking away. "Shawn!" I chased after him, but he wouldn't turn around. "Shawn!" I shouted.
    He turned toward me. "I can't do this anymore Rebecca. I love you. I want to be with you, but you won't just give me a chance. We would be great together; you know it. Just be with me."
    "I can't. I just don't feel that way about you. I'm sorry." A tear trailed down my cheek and Shawn turned and walked away from me again.