The eighth day of May.
Taylor did not come back. Joseph waited in their room all day hoping to see him. He'd been out of sight for days and Joseph was getting worried. For anyone else one or two days might mean trouble but that wasn't the case with them. Sneaking off was normal and suddenly disappearing even more so. But this was extreme even for him.
Whenever Taylor had something to do that could take awhile he would always tell Joseph in advance. That's why Joseph didn't immediately panic. He figured he'd be back eventually. To go this long without passing each other once was definitely not normal.
The two weren't exactly buddies with the adults around. Joseph wasn't sure about asking them for help. His worry had officially taken over his indecision so he found an advisor.
"I'm sure the kid's fine." Unsurprisingly they paid him no mind. "The two of you are always off somewhere. He'll come back eventually."
Joseph figured this might happen so he found another then another. But it was all the same.
"I really don't have time for you two! Just wait for him to come back, he always does.."
But that was the problem.
Joseph was upset and growing restless. He didn't know what else to say. After the last two advisors he gave up and continued to search on his own. He tried all their hang out spots then talked with the folks in town. They got their jobs from them. Maybe if he knew the last job Taylor took me on? But nothing. He searched the town, the forest, the school and the orphanage twice. His brother was gone.
Joseph remembered him mentioning dealing with something. But he was always working on something so Joseph didn't ask. Now he regretted not asking for details.
He told everyone he could to let him know if they saw Taylor. He'd been missing for three days. And Joseph searched for another two.
The police's eventual involvement was even more unhelpful. Concluding it was a simple run away case they said that kids at the orphanage are always coming and going. To them troubled youth running away was nothing to panic over. Sometimes they come back, sometimes they don't.
What did that guy say? "That kid's smart. At least his mouth is. He probably thought he could handle himself out there."
He has a name..
Joseph insisted that couldn't be the case. He'd never just leave him behind. But no one listened. After a week he gave up the adults and retraced Taylor's steps alone. Day and night spent searching while everyone else forgot about Taylor. Another random kid who didn't take to small town life. His presence meant nothing to them. But he was everything to Joseph.
His chest felt cold. He wasn't wounded but everything hurt. He was alone again. And it somehow felt worse than before. He didn't have anything but then there was Taylor. Who then became his guardian, protector, older brother, and best friend and so much more. Now he was alone and he hated the world for ignoring them.
____
The seventeenth day of May.
Joseph took a late night walk along the forest edge. Hearing a splash he paused and looked towards the lake. Did something fall in? It was dark and hard to see so he moved closer to see a figure in the water.
At first he was startled as he thought someone had drowned. But then the person started to cough and struggled to swim. Seeing them start to actually drown, Joseph quickly recovered and ran in to pull them out. He dragged the person to shore and tried to wake them up.
The moon was bright and not obstructed by the clouds. Now that this person was in front of him he could easily see his face. Joseph was shocked and frantically called out, "Taylor? Are you okay? Please wake up, what happened to you?"
The person from the lake slowly opened his eyes. He could vaguely hear his name being called but it was slightly off. Coughing a few times he opened his eyes. He saw only the worried expression on the boy over him.
He looked so frightened. He couldn't help but comfort him. "It's alright, I'm fine. Thank you for helping me."
Joseph's expression froze for a moment. Something wasn't right. Meanwhile the boy caught his breath and sat up. Meeting Joseph's strange expression he asked, "what's wrong, are you hurt?"
Joseph was quiet for a moment then questioned sounding very unsure. "You're not Taylor?"
Now the boy was confused and said, "no. My name isn't Taylor, it's Tyler. Did you mean to say Tyler? Have we met?"
Joseph was dazed. How could someone look so similar and have such a similar name too?
Joseph scrutinized the boy in front of him. Now that he's got a closer look, this person does look slightly different from Taylor. But their faces are so similar it wouldn't be surprising if they were twins. Could they be related somehow?
His hair was longer than Taylor's and the eye color was just slightly off. The differences were so minimal that Joseph's probably the only one in the world who could tell.
Aside from his looks, his clothes and even the way he carries himself are different. Speaking of which, what's with his clothes?
As the other looked at him with such a focused expression Tyler couldn't help tense up. His thoughts wandering.
Was there something on his face?
Had they really met before?
Why are his eyebrows so furrowed?
Is he mad?
Why???
They were at an impasse and the longer he was stared at the more his head spun.
Joseph finally noticed the increasingly awkward expression on the look alike and averted his gaze. Guess he doesn't do well under pressure. Fixing his expression Joseph broke the silence. "Sorry about that, I thought you were someone else. Are you alright? Why were you in the lake?"
Tyler regained his senses and thought for a moment. "I don't know. I must have fallen in. I'm no good at swimming. But I'm fine now because of you so thank you."
Joseph narrowed his eyes and continued to question. "Where are you from? I would have remembered you if I saw you around. Yet for some reason you're all the way out here in the countryside and near the forest no less walking around at midnight. I have to say… you're quite suspicious."
Tyler felt weirdly threatened by his words. Defending himself, Tyler threw the accusation back. "What about yourself? Aren't you just as suspicious walking here at this time?"
The two glared at each other for a moment then sighed.
Joseph scoffed. "Right so we're both suspicious but I have a place to go back to. Acting all defensive, could you be a runaway?"
Despite the unwanted attitude, Tyler answered with a sigh, "In a way, yes I'm always someplace new. I don't know where I am right now and I don't have anywhere to go. If you could just tell me where the next town is I would appreciate it."
Someone's unhappy.
Joseph gave him a look of doubt. "Do you have any money?"
Tyler shot him an annoyed glare, "I should have enough for the night then I can make more tomorrow. Direction please." As he said this he pulled forth the soaking bag hanging across his back and opened it. They looked inside a money pouch and sure enough he had just enough for one night's rest at the inn.
From where they were the town was still a thirty minute walk whereas the orphanage was only fifteen minutes.
Joseph thought for a moment and said, "There's no need to waste your money on one night's rest. Also, we're soaked and it's midnight. It's better to get warm fast. The town is too far but the orphanage is nearby. You can clean up and rest there then continue on in the morning."
Without waiting for the other to answer he helped Tyler to his feet then started walking away after talking. He obviously made up his mind already.
Tyler noticed that and was slightly peeved. After thinking about it, he knew that the other was right and that it was better to follow him.
He thought so but he didn't move. Joseph noticed that the other hadn't followed and turned around. "Why aren't you following, you don't agree?"
Tyler shook his head and explained, "I can't walk well and I don't have my cane. It's probably still in the water."
Cane?
Joseph walked to the lake and looked around. Probably not a great idea to look for it now. He turned to the other and asked, "How bad is it? Can you still walk without it?"
Tyler shook his head and said, "Without the cane it'll probably take three times as long. I get tired without the support. It really depends on the day."
Joseph nodded, "I see. And you almost drowning probably doesn't help much.. Since it's already late and the path is rugged it's probably better to just carry you to avoid further injury."
Tyler didn't dislike the idea of being carried. It was dark and he was really tired. But he was already annoyed by this boy and wanted to get back at him, shooting him a look of distrust.
Meeting his eyes that screamed 'you look weak' Joseph got defensive, "Oh relax I'm stronger than I look and with how short you are it's really not that difficult. Nothing I haven't done before."
Tyler scoffed, "Didn't even say anything but you're right you don't look all that strong and I'm barely shorter than you so don't overestimate your own strength and hurt yourself."
The two were back to glaring at each other.
In the end Joseph carried him on his back. It took them a little longer than expected but it was still better than going all the way into town. Multiple failed attempts at conversing lead them to a tacit agreement of not getting to know each other. When they made it to the orphanage they snuck up to Joseph's room. Joseph and Taylor snuck in an out all the time so it was easy for him to do.
In this orphanage the older kids get their own rooms and at most have to bunk with two other kids. Once they were in the room they didn't have to worry about getting caught.
Joseph always thought he was lucky to have bunked with Taylor. They didn't start out that way but Taylor talked the advisors into a corner and in the end they got to be roommates. In recent days he avoided his room. It only made him feel lonely.
He brought Tyler to a chair and went to the bathroom to start a bath. The last thing he needed was to catch a cold right now. He came back and started pulling out a new set of clothes. He was about to grab some of Taylors clothes since they would fit Tyler better but doing so made him feel wrong somehow so he just grabbed some of his old pajamas.
Looking at Tyler's current clothes he couldn't help but ask, "I noticed this earlier but why are you dressed like that? It seems.. inconvenient."
Tyler looked down and realized that he was dressed a little strange. At a glance the fabrics seemed somewhat fancy but everything was a little loose. His pants were rolled up, his shirts oversized and his shoes are so plain they almost seem out of place. Plus he was in a very ragged state covered in dirt. At first Joseph thought it was from the lake but it seemed more like he was in a fight recently.
Tyler answered truthfully. "It is different from what I'm used to but I was in a rush at the time and couldn't help what I looked like. Then I never found the time or money to get proper fitting ones."
"I see. It can get rough out there on your own."
Joseph ached imagining Taylor going through similar struggles.
He seemed to be in deep thought so Tyler washed up first. When he came back Joseph was gone.
He was tired but decided it probably wasn't good manners to sleep on someone else's bed without their say so. Instead he sat back down on the chair and waited patiently.
____
When Tyler was in the bathroom Joseph got hungry so he left to get the two of them something to eat. On his way back from sneaking food from the kitchen he ran into one of the advisors.
Where was this detection skill a week ago?
He was immediately detained and brought to the office for scolding. He somehow made it out with the food but it would be best if he avoided the advisors for a while.
When he made it back to the room he had already forgotten about the extra guest waiting for him. Opening the door he was taken aback by the sight and almost called to Taylor once more. He bit his tongue.
The lights were off to call attention to the room. Only the moon's light showed through the open window adding a natural glow to the room. Sitting on the chair by the window was a boy with his eyes closed, head tilting ever so slightly towards the light. He looked too thin for his age; the oversized pajamas didn't help. His complexion was better now without the added dust. His hair was smoother than before. Engulfed in the moon's light it seemed to glow. The sight made him look out of this world.
Joseph couldn't help but tense up at the thought. It was his calm expression. In his rest his angry pout had relaxed. If Taylor had died.. and appeared before him.. his ghost might look something like this.
A frown appeared on Joseph's lips as his mind wandered endlessly.
Why was such a person here?
Why did he look so similar to Taylor?
What does this mean?
Is Taylor really gone forever?
Joseph did his best to push these thoughts to the back of his mind. He didn't want to know the truth. He just wanted Taylor back. He put the food on the short table and went to clean up. When he came back he noticed the other staring at the food.
Joseph called out to him, "You're awake again. Are you hungry?"
Tyler looked at him and nodded. He seemed a little out of it. He was probably exhausted and still half asleep.
Joseph lowered his voice, "Come sit down and eat something. This is all there is."
Tyler got up, walked to the short table and slowly sat down. He seemed as though his leg still ached slightly. Joseph suggested that after eating he rested on one of the beds. He was going to point to Taylor's bed but just like before he didn't like anything that made it look like Taylor was being replaced. So he swapped beds and told Tyler to use his.
Tyler fell asleep immediately after touching the pillow. Joseph lay awake for a bit then eventually dozed off. That night he dreamt of the past.
__
Taylor and he lived in the desolate countryside in an orphanage attending school not far from the town. They met at the orphanage years ago and became fast friends. The two of them were inseparable. The family neither had.
Joseph was taller but a year younger while Taylor was older and much more mature for his age. He could out talk any adult and didn't really get along with any other kids their age.
With an orphanage as large as theirs it was easy to fall through the cracks. They could run around in the woods and hang around the town for at least a few days before anyone noticed anything. So that's what they did, skipping school and reading up in their free time. It was the stuffy classroom and teachers who really couldn't care less that they didn't like. It was better to learn on their own and have fun doing it.
When they wanted pocket change they did odd jobs around town. They didn't usually talk to anyone else as they liked to keep to themselves. But the people around town admired their work ethic despite their age. Taylor was 16 and Joseph was 15. They weren't children but their rough childhoods from before the orphanage put a damper on their growth so they look younger than they are. The two of them could barely pass for fifteen.
Whether in public or private they were often in their own little world. Taylor liked to say it was 'us against the world'. Joseph looked up to Taylor. May they always look out for each other the way they do now.
___
Ever since Taylor disappeared Joseph hadn't slept well and was constantly bombarded with nightmares. Too many what ifs about Taylor's disappearance.
Maybe because Tyler looked so similar. For the first time in almost two weeks he dreamt of the good times he had with Taylor. He slept well and woke up late the next day.