Pirates & Pizza

Storm

When JT and I arrived at the Meyers’ house, we found Jensen and Carter in the backyard playing pirates while Jen’s parents watched the game from the porch. It’s been since we were teenagers that I’ve seen such a carefree look on my friends’ faces. My heart seizes inside my chest with the pain of regret. I should have allowed for more breaks from work, instead of taking one job after another in an endless loop. If I had done that, then maybe Carter would be mentally whole.

Carter has Katie sitting on one shoulder holding her sword, with his sword in the other. They are fighting Darius, who is on Jensen’s shoulder while Jen holds onto him, getting sliced by Carter. I find it funny that the most guarded of us in a fight is the one who leaves himself wide open to being attacked while balancing a child.

“Stoe!” Katie shouts, having spotted me. “You’re on