June (minor tw for mentions of bullying)
I lay there for hours.
The stars had reminded me that I was supposed to find something, but they couldn't tell me what.
"The book. That's right! I have the book."
I scrambled out of bed and ripped open my backpack, grabbing the weathered book.
I was wondering how old it was when I opened it.
1990
Twenty-seven years old in the present life.
Forty-seven years old in my past life.
I looked under the writing; scribbled on the page was the name June.
June Sekin.
That was my mother's maiden name.
Sekin
My blood ran cold as I turned the page to see a young teenager, a boy who looked just like my mother. To his side was a slightly older girl.
I recognized her immediately.
My mum smiled, and I smiled back seeing her face again.
Time stood still at that moment.
I just stared.
Who was he? A sibling? She had never told me anything about a brother, let alone any other family members on her side.
I turned the page. It was a diary.
School was good today;
I ate delicious food today;
I went out with my friends;
Stuff like that filled the pages, and I secretly hoped there would be more. At that point, I didn't think my finding the cottage was a coincidence; there had to be more.
The writings slowly began to become more frequent.
One week, Five days, Two days. One day.
He was talking about my mom.
"April seems to resent me these days. I don't know what I did. I got into college, but she never congratulated me or looked at me. She stormed up the stair into her room instead. I hope she will talk to me soon."
"She's avoiding me now. She doesn't even want to be seen with me anymore at school. Am I an embarrassment to her? She's my older sister; she didn't act like this before. I wonder what I did that led to her hating me."
"I asked her today. I'll make it brief. She told me to die. My older sister. She told me it would fix everything. She could live happily. I wonder if that's what she really meant."
"This diary is the only thing I can "talk" to. April turned all my friends away, telling them I was gay and they shouldn't be around me. They've been spreading that around school like wildfire; it's not true. All of it's a lie, but nobody will bother to hear a word that comes out of my mouth."
I closed the book.
My mom wouldn't do that, would she?
No, she wouldn't. She didn't even have a brother anyways. She wouldn't do that even if she did. I threw the book as far as I could. I wouldn't believe any of it.
---------------
Hue
June didn't get out of bed the next day. Not for breakfast, lunch, or dinner; he just laid there.
By the time 6:00 came around, he still hadn't come out, so I went in instead.
"June?"
Nothing.
"June, it's six o clock. You need to eat something."
"I'm not hungry. That doughnut was thissss big." He sat up suddenly with his arms stretched as far as they could by his side and then fell back into his pillow.
He seemed full of energy now.
"It was not, and you know it." I set down a bowl of soup and threw a packaged dessert bread at him.
"Soup?" He seemed confused.
"Well, I didn't know if you were sick but it seems you aren't. So I threw bread at you."
"So why'd you come in here," he said as he opened the bread.
"You haven't moved all day- why do you think? Had to make sure you would come to school tomorrow."
"Ah, that's right. School starts tomorrow, doesn't it? How unfortunate." He immediately sulked.
"Eat. You need energy for tomorrow."
"Yes, sir."
"Shut up and eat."
I walked towards the door and spotted an old book in rough shape on the floor.
"June, is this yours?" No answer. He was focused on the food, even though he said he wasn't hungry. I picked it up, looking at the first page. June Sekin.
"June, why do you have this," I said, angry.
"What? The book? I found it in the cottage." He seemed scared.
"I'm sorry for yelling." I hadn't thought about the way I asked the question.
"All good, but why do you care so much? That's-"
"June Sekins' book." He looked at me, shocked.
"Yeah, do you know him? Is he still around? I have some questions about what's in there."
"He moved. I'm taking this." I replied.
"Why? It's my uncle's. I can give it to him by my-"
"What?" A million thoughts went through my head.
"My uncle. My mum's younger brother." He looked puzzled. It was obvious he knew nothing, and I didn't want to say anything more.
"What's your last name, June."
"I took my moms name shortly before I came here. I wanted-"
"I asked what your last name was."
"Herts. Now leave." June said, now angry. I left, taking the book with me. He was confused and scared; my anger didn't help. I hadn't thought about what must have been going through his head in the moment.
I went to apologize later, but he was already asleep by the time I had realized how bad I had hurt him.
The next morning was filled with silence. Despite being in bed all day, June looked tired.
"June, I'm sorry, I-"
He left the table and started toward the door.
"Wait, you don't know where the school is."
"Then show me." Same response.
The walk to school was also silent, June following distantly behind me. When we arrived, June disappeared. I didn't see him until the beginning of homeroom.
"Ok, guys." The teacher took everyone's attention.
"We have a new student, June." Their eyes clung to him like moths to a light.
"Where did you say you were from?"
"Lyle. You wouldn't know it."
"O-Okay then. You can have a seat in any of the empty seats." I waved him over but he went to the opposite side of the classroom, avoiding me.
Everyone quickly found out that he was a genius. He was years ahead of us all in each subject, maybe even better than the teacher. At some point, the teacher stopped asking him if he knew the answer because he obviously did. Lunch seemed to come faster than usual, maybe because I was having so much fun laughing at June embarrassing teacher after teacher. I looked at his seat to ask if he wanted to eat with me, but he was already gone. Nobody saw him leave, and nobody could find him until the end of lunch.
"Dude, where did you go."
"Lunch."
"But where?"
"It was a nice day; I was just sitting there." Yet nobody saw him the entire thirty-minute period.
He continued to astonish everyone with how much he knew until the end of the day. I assumed he had gone home, so I went to the gym for a scrimmage basketball match. As usual, the girls gathered to watch, all cheering for their favorite player, which was me. I never got tired of hearing it; it felt good to know people were rooting for you. An hour in, I spotted June sitting where he could see the game without being seen. I let him be; He didn't want to see me, that was obvious enough. When I got home, he was already in his room. I contemplated for a long time, wondering if it was a good idea for me to go in and apologize. Eventually, I did.
"June?" His head turned towards me.
"Here to apologize? It's okay. I think I understand now." Damn it.
"I don't know what you heard, but you shouldn't listen."
"It's nothing. People are just speculating that I-" He laughed.
"They're saying I'm some love child." He looked at me smiling but once again his eyes were sad; and tired.
"What?" That wasn't what I expected to hear but I was glad.
"I don't know, just heard some whispering is all. I don't try to listen to anyone around me. I listen to music mostly, but sometimes I catch a bit of the conversation. I also thought about it. You have every right to be mad at me. You have no idea who I am; now I'm in your house, and your acting like everything is fine."
"June. I know you enough to know you are a good person, not some mass murderer."
"I wouldn't trust mw. I don't think even I know who I am." He laughed and looked at his hands resting in his lap.
"What do you mean by that?"
"I'm going to need that book back." He replied, dodging my question.
"Why?" I asked
"I just read some of it and was curious. My mother never told me she had a brother, so I never knew him." That made sense, but I was reluctant.
"I put in a box with some other books but it's getting late. I'll find it tomorrow." It was obvious he didn't want to trust me. Without saying anything, he held out his pinky.
"Promise?"
"Promise."