only you can set me free{Xerxes}come and rescue me

[SILAS SCHMIDT]

It wasn't until now that Silas realized how alone he really was.

The last piece of furniture had been set down, the last box stacked. The movers were gone, having been paid and sent away. And Silas stood in the middle of an apartment, surrounded only by material objects.

It seemed as though his mother had sent the entire contents of his bedroom. Here was his bed from home, his desk, his lamp, and his dresser. In a box were his posters, rolled up neatly, and picture frames with his family smiling up at him. He browsed through the pictures.

His oldest brother Isaac with his new girlfriend Kayla.

His other older brother, Chris, with his wife Anya, who looked ready to pop. They were expecting a son any day now.

A photo from his parent's wedding day.

A small picture collage of himself and Tyler, over the years through grade school and high school.

His brother Adler, hugging a smiling girl who looked suspiciously like Tyler's sister Elli. Silas chuckled. Tyler was not going to be happy about that development.

Him and Isaac at the baseball field.

Him and Chris and Isaac at a track meet.

Him and Adler playing basketball.

Him and Chris trying to push each other off the uneven bars.

Him and Isaac chalking up for gymnastics.

Him and his mom in the kitchen, caked with flour.

Him and his dad throwing the football in the backyard.

Sitting on his dad's lap, being read to.

Wrestling with his dad and brothers.

Falling asleep in his dad's arms.

Silas wiped a stray tear off his face. What the hell was his mom trying to do? Why would he want any of this stuff? But looking around at the rest of the contents of his old bedroom, he wondered if this wasn't a message from her. A message that said, "You want to be a grown up? Then go ahead."

He moved the box to the closet in his bedroom. Then he proceeded to move more furniture. It was late into the night when he finally collapsed onto the couch. There was still an empty room, as the apartment was meant for two, but maybe Silas would find a roommate. He started to feel ill again.

Lately, he had felt very under the weather. Usually it was strange stomach aches, headaches, soreness and dizziness. And sometimes, he blacked out. Sometimes he couldn't remember where he had been or what he had been doing. Maybe he had gotten addicted to those drugs he'd been messing around with. And he was going through withdrawl. Possible, but not likely. Yep, he was getting dizzy again. Silas sat up and put his head between his knees.

Damn, what was with him lately?