Dennis wanted to be alone. He left his parents with the excuse of getting school supplies to be alone. Now here he was. Not alone. Not at all alone. He tugged his jacket more tightly, wrapping himself up as if in a cocoon and still they milled about. Pushing, chatting, bustling and drifting. Completely oblivious to the complete and utter darkness that surrounded their everyday lives, trying to burst through and rip away their reality.
He heard the click a moment too late and glanced over to see someone, some guy, taking pictures. He wasn't sure if he'd been caught in the lens, but he took a step back to get out of the way. That sound, it physically stabbed at his heart.
And there came the anxiety. And there came the pain.
God, would it ever get easier? To live without Colin? To remember Colin? He didn't mean to, but he shot the camera guy an angry look. Why did he have to do that? Why did anyone have to do that? Why couldn't they just leave him alone?
"Could you do that somewhere else?" the words tumbled out of his lips before he could stop himself.