Benjamin

The wind off the roof caused the safety grilles to rattle with a regular metallic sound. I was leaning against the edge, a cigarette dangling from my lips, my eyes lost in the city below. From here, the high school almost looked peaceful. Almost.

The second-year students loved coming up here during breaks. Some to talk. Others to skip class. For me, it was mainly to breathe air away from the noise.

The door creaked behind me.

Another visit from newcomers.

I heard hesitant footsteps, then the overly enthusiastic voice of the delegate doing his usual routine:

— And this is the roof. Students are allowed to come here as long as they don't do anything wrong.

I took one last drag on my cigarette before turning my head slightly towards them.

The new guy had that expression I knew so well. That mixture of curiosity and unease. As if he was already trying to figure out where he'd landed.

The delegate followed her gaze to me and sighed discreetly.

— Oh… that’s Benjamin.

He always said my first name as if he were announcing bad news.

— Don't pay any attention to him. He scares all the new kids.

A slight nervous laugh accompanied his sentence.

I didn't reply. I just let the smoke slowly escape into the cold air.

Then I looked the new man straight in the eyes.

Just a few seconds.

Just enough to see if he would look away like the others.