Page 207 -- XXIII.

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‘A week is rather specific,’ said Garovel. ‘How do you know it took them that long?’

‘Well, on the way back, the cops were really happy. Um... they told me it was amazing, because I’d been missing for three weeks... and I knew it had been longer.’

Garovel was briefly quiet again. ‘Well, shit, Hector. I’m sorry. I didn’t realize it was that bad.’

‘I... it’s not, I mean... if I’d been able to explain to the foster care people, then maybe... but I... I just--’

‘No. Stop that. It’s definitely not your fault. What I want to know is how Child Services never took you away from your parents.’

‘Ch-Child Services? I, uh... I don’t, ah...’

‘Bah. How did they not realize it was a case of neglect? Was the incident reported as a child abduction? Or maybe they just thought you ran away?’

‘I don’t know about any of that, um... I mean, n-neglect? R-really, it’s not like... uh...’

‘Hector. It’s one thing for your parents to be a bit distant from you or not really take an interest in your life as a teenager. It’s sure-as-fuck something else for them to forget about their ten-year-old son in another city.’

The bike started drifting toward the shoulder, and he had to correct its path. ‘It-it’s fine, though. I mean, I’ve never thought of it like that, so...’

‘Of course you haven’t. It’s how you’ve grown up. But that doesn’t make it okay.’

Hector had no response.


Chapter Twenty-Three: ‘Thy beloved kinship...’
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The remainder of the journey was quiet. Garovel took the chance to rest, with the advisement that Hector should wake him should he get lost, but it was a straight shot the rest of the way, so Hector wasn’t too concerned.

Rather, he was more worried about Garovel’s obvious disdain for his parents. Even as he saw Brighton’s towers appearing over the horizon, it was still bothering him.