Chapter Text
Will had always felt alone during recess. He loved to play, but no one wanted to go near him. He didn’t understand why. He hadn’t done anything wrong, yet none of the other children wanted to be with him. Maybe it was because of his shyness ? Or was it because he didn’t speak yet ?
So, Will got into the habit of sitting alone on a swing. The twin swing next to him was always empty, but at least he could have a little fun during the break.
Today, everything changed. Someone sat down next to him. It was a boy Will had seen before. Will felt a surge of hope as he stared at him.
"Do you want to be my friend ?" the boy asked.
And for the first time, Will spoke to someone.
"Yes" Will replied.
And they swung together. Will listened to Mike talk about everything and nothing. After a while, Mike told him about Dungeons & Dragons and the role of the Paladin. Will’s imagination took flight; he could see Mike in armor with a wooden sword. Mike became his Paladin.
When he got home, Will ran to the living room to grab his colored pencils. He took a completely empty sketchbook and began to write while humming a nursery rhyme melody. He wrote a little song about his Paladin.
But good moods never lasted long at the Byers' house. Not when Lonnie came home drunk with a bottle in his hand. Will was terrified as he ran to his room to hide.
He heard the loud voices; he heard the screaming and the sound of objects flying. He was scared for his mom. But he just closed his eyes and pressed his small hands against his ears to block out the noise. He started reciting his song in his head. He repeated it, turning up the volume of his little inner voice every time he finished.
He hummed, trying to calm himself down. He hummed his little song as a way to forget everything.
"My Paladin"
"Today, I met a Paladin
He was very clever.
He took me by the hand
My Paladin.
He spoke and I listened.
He told me a Paladin’s job is to protect
And I cried.
My Paladin came to me
I thought I’d fly up to the roof.
My Paladin is here
And I believe in him."
Yes, Will had to believe in Mike. He was going to protect him from the mean monster who was hurting his mother. He was sure of it, he just had to believe in Mike.