He pushed the branches away and led me through them out onto a long, flat rock. I looked around. This place was incredible. He was standing on the edge, away from me, hands in his pockets, also looking around at the scenery.
Him: It’s not much but it’s…
Me: Beautiful.
He blushed and looked down, scuffling his shoes against the rock.
Me: How’d you find it?
He laughed, as though recalling a distant memory.
Him: I was running away.
I stared at him. Me: What?
He laughed again, but this time I could tell it wasn’t real. Him: Yeah, my parents were getting a divorce so I kind of freaked out and ran away. I ran under the tree, saw the hole in the fence and made it down here. I spent the night here, and went back home in the morning, having sufficiently driven my parents crazy with worry.
I was a little stunned, I couldn’t imagine what it was like to have your parents split and you to be caught in the middle. At least with me, I didn’t have to choose.
Me: I’m sorry.
He just shrugged: So what’s your story?