I sat in class with my head clouded by another train of thoughts.

Yesterday's thoughts lingered in the back of my head before being replaced with a different collection of thoughts that I had never thought of before.

Kelly and I began texting each other two weeks ago. She told me after our conversation, which took place almost a month ago that she would be leaving school for a while to go to an eating disorder clinic. I promised I'd keep her up to date with schoolwork from the same classes we both take.

I catch Aaren looking blankly at the board as I glance over my shoulder. He was there, but you could see he wasn't in his right mind. It was as if the darkest series of thoughts had already clouded his mind.

Ms. Romeo is tapping the board to reclaim our attention. I immediately turned back to find Ms. Romeo staring at the entire class before turning around, her back facing us, and started talking about what she had written on the board.

When the first bell rang, we immediately stood up from our chairs as Ms. Romeo wraps up the discussion quickly there and announces a quiz on Wednesday.

Half of the students left the room already, while the other half were either busy talking to their friends or gathering their stuff up before heading out. I grab my bag on the floor and immediately walked over towards Aaren, who seems so busy gathering his thing.

I tap his shoulder. He shifts his gaze towards mine, shaking his head as if he were shaking his thoughts out of his head.

My eyebrows, drawn together into confusion, "Are you all right? You seem to be out of it," I say as I try to find some latent emotion on his face, but who am I to determine if he is sad, lonely, or none of the above since I can't tell which of my emotions is which?

He smiles at me, "Yes. I am okay. Why?" He says as he swings his bag to his shoulder. We both left the room and started walking silently beside each other.

I keep staring at him as I say, "Something's bothering you. I can clearly tell."

He spares me a glance, "N-no," he stammers, and it was evident to me now that he is lying about it.

"You're lying," I say, pointing my index finger at his face. He stopped walking as I continue, "You stutter when you lie, and it's too obvious just to ignore it," I crossed my arms to my chest.

He turns and looks at me quietly. It was as if he was trying to think of the proper excuse to dismiss the topic quickly. As I walk alongside Aaren, he sighs and starts walking instead.

I gently and playful bump into his shoulder. When he decided to ignore me, I grabbed his arm and dragged him to the opposite side of the hallway, where his next class was supposed to be.

We walked into the library and were quickly greeted by the earsplitting silence. I quietly waved my hand at the librarian, who smiled back. I continue to pull Aaren into the hidden room at the back of the library.

I fished inside my denim pocket for a key and then took it out. I unlock the door and push it to open as we both enter the small room together.

Aaren wanted to give me the spare key to this room and told me that I should come here if I ever felt sad or exhausted instead of working up an excuse to leave school early.

Before slouching down on the sofa, Aaren tosses his bag on the floor. He closes his eyes and strains his neck towards the ceiling. I took a seat next to him, my bag on the floor.

Before I began talking and questioning him again, I gave him a minute of silence to himself, as if he wanted it.

"My dad went home," He says softly. I turn my head to look at him, only to see his eyes were still closed. "And I feel like I'm pushing my mom away from the way I'm pushing my dad away from her."

I adjust my sitting position, directing my entire body and attention toward him.

"Isn't that a good thing that your dad went home?" I asked. When he peers at me, his eyes suddenly open.

I stared at him blankly and confused, "My dad cheated on my mom and left her, knowing that she was sick," he says.

He bends his body, intertwining his fingers as he looks down on the floor.

"He keeps returning to her and then abandoning her. In the last three years, it has happened several times. I'm so tired of watching my mother suffer as a result of my father's behavior. I'm not sure why he keeps returning and then leaving, even though he now has a new family."

I couldn't think of anything to say. It was as though my words didn't have any value. My thoughts wouldn't be enough to communicate with what he's going through right now.

"I am enraged with fury and disappointed at the same time for hurting my mom for what I said to her last night," Aaren says. "And that is what I am feeling."

He looks at me as I managed to say, "I don't really know what to tell you since my dad neither did of those two things. All I could probably tell you is that if I were you, I would at least encourage the fact that he went back."

He furrows his eyebrows, "Encourage the fact that he went back?" his voice raises, hinting he was somewhat confused, "You want me to celebrate with him with open arms and then watch him leave again after coming back?"

I shake my head, "My dad left and cheated by choice. It's not like as if he never wanted to leave as your father did," he says.

I frown over his words. When he notices the look on my face, his face immediately softens. "I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean it to sound so insensitive."

I shake my head frantically, "No, you were right," I say, acknowledging the truth even if it did hurt. "My father died, and I knew he never intended to abandon me, but your father had two options, and between those two, he chose to abandon your family."

I took his hand and held it, "But he's still your dad," I tell him, "I understand that you despise him for what he did, but you can't deny that he is your father and that we all make mistakes. Ones that are both intentional and unintentional. Even if he has told you and promised you that he would change, don't get too relaxed with that idea. You told me to be wary since nothing is certain, but I'm telling you to encourage him in his efforts to improve and stay. I understand it's not easy, particularly after he kept leaving and returning. Just be there if it happens again. Don't just stand there silently watching him walk away. Sometimes, all it takes is one ear to listen to someone speak their truth."

He stares at me, but I don't know whether he is confused or wasn't, "Speak with him and hear what he has to say on why he chose to leave. You won't know the truth unless you actually listen."

If it's on purpose or not, his father strives to improve. We're always trying to be better at one point or another, but we still succumb to temptations. We wouldn't realize the truth if no one asked why we did what we did.

That is how I see things.

"I don't know what to say," Aaren says. His eyes fall on our hands, unable to react appropriately.

"Then don't say anything," I say, "You don't have to, and you can choose whether or not to listen to what I said. It's all up to you, but I want to tell you that no matter what happens or what choices you will make, I know you always have the best intentions."

He raises his head, meeting my eyes. He smiles, pulling my arm to hug me. I relax into his arms after being caught off guard by his abrupt action. I'm simply embracing every second of his comfort.

"Thank you," Aaren says as I imagine him smiling through his words, "I'm not sure what else to say but thank you. Thank you for allowing me to know you."