Secrets in the Shadows (Secrets 2)

A lot," he added. "Don't tell me you look in the mirror

and don't see what I see when I look in the mirror.

Remember, you told me you had similar feelings and

thoughts, similar to what you saw in my poems, and

you said you expressed them through your art. "You didn't say it, but you as much as told me

that the tragedy you went through, the death of that

boy, was in your mind as somehow your fault, that

you will and would bring only trouble and pain to

anyone who cares about you or gets involved with

you. Well?" he asked sharply. "Well?" he nearly

shouted.

I shuddered. He hadn't forgotten a word, not a

syllable, and I couldn't deny it.

"Yes," I cried. "I have those thoughts." He nodded, smiling.

"But the difference between us is I don't need to

be reminded of them, especially by my family. Or by

a parent!" I said.

"Like having a father who pretends he's not

your father?" he asked smugly.

The tears that were coming from my eyes felt

so hot that I thought they would scald my cheeks as

they jerked down toward my chin.

"That's mean, Duncan."

He nodded. "I'm sorry. It is mean to say it, but

it underscores how alike you and I really are." I flicked the tears off my cheeks and sucked in

my breath. "So why did you just come back if that's

what you think? Why did you even come here today?

Why be around another sinner or someone who could

cause you to be a sinner?"

He took a while to respond. First he looked out