"Why can't you just let me live a normal life!"

"Young lady! I have given you a life, but you are so stupid that you don't do anything with it! If only you were the normal one, then I wouldn't have to suffer with this! Fix yourself, freak!"

I flinched back from the words. Usually I'm pretty unbreakable, but my dad always knows what to say to get under my skin. Nevertheless, I rebounded quickly from the blow.

"I am not a freak! A freak is someone like you who yells at their daughter! Why don't you fix your own life!" I bolted from our living room, escaping the sound of a shattering beer bottle. Just like he got under my skin, I aggravated him as well. Like father like daughter, right?

But I knew when I crossed the line or not. That's why I ran from the room; I did not want to see that broken bottle up close and personal. Unfortunately, my dad lacks that social awareness, the alcohol always clouded his judgement.

I sighed in defeat as I reached my bedroom, shutting the door behind me. I grabbed the nearest chair and propped it underneath my door handle, kind of like in those horror films when they don't want to let the ax-wielding maniac inside. Sadly, I didn't have a proper lock, so I had to settle for this. At least it comforted me somewhat.

Once ensured that the chair would protect me, I plopped face first on my bed, proud that it held up once again. My bed had a rusted metal frame and the sheets weren't much better. They were falling apart at the seams, but it was understandable since I've had them for quite a few years now. The rest of my room wasn't much better. I mean, I have a crappy, vintage desk and my one chair, which was currently against the door. The floor creaked everywhere I stepped and the old paint was peeling off the walls. Yes, my room was absolutely fantastic.

I thought about my most recent fight with my dad. I had simply stated that I was going out with a few of my friends, and he suddenly decided to play the role of a responsible parent. After many months of drinking himself into a stupor, he decided to pay attention to me at this one moment. He argued that I was lying, that I didn't have any friends. Contrary to popular belief, I actually do have friends and I am quite a nice person. But I never told my dad all that because I was scared he would take the only good thing away from me. And I slipped up. I spoke the word "friends" and he got pissed. Domino effect occurred and thirty minutes later we were still arguing, back and forth.

I wish mom was still here, I thought, but in reality, I think her disappearance allowed her to escape the inevitable violence of the man she loved.

Pounding footsteps shocked me out of my thoughtful state, my bed shaking slightly with each step. I kept my fearful eyes trained on the doorway, awaiting the hopefully passing storm.

The drunken footsteps briefly hesitated outside my door. I sucked in a sharp breath, and breathed out in relief as I heard them continue on down the hallway. The jarring noise of a slammed door signified my successful escape.

I groaned, squeezing my fisted hands tightly. Why did I have to live with this! What made it so that I was chosen to live this life! But I'm glad it wasn't somebody else that had to suffer. If I got this life to save another from having this torture, then I would gladly save them, I thought bitterly.

All day, everyday, I always wished to be in a different universe. A place where I could escape my current emotional torment. A place where I could be 100% happy. And I wouldn't complain if the other dimension offered me superpowers either, I internally remarked.

I sighed. Now that I had my tantrum of the day, I was starting to get bored. I pushed myself off my bed, groaning slightly, and stumbled my way over to my window. Sliding the window open, I climbed through and stood on the metal platform, the one for a fire escape.

A gentle breeze combed through my hair, the cold air calming me. I carefully climbed the tiny metal staircase all the way to the roof. It wasn't that far of a climb. My apartment is on the fourth floor and there are only six floors in the building. So in no time at all, I was hauling myself over the edge of the roof.

The view was beautiful. The sun was just setting, casting a gorgeous orange glow over the city of New York. Shadows chased each other between the buildings, and combined with the light it was a perfect balance.

I sighed dreamily, and walked to the edge of the roof that faced the setting sun. I pulled myself up so I sat on the stone railing, enjoying all the simplicity that surrounded me at that moment. All my troubles washed away, and no thought of my brooding dad downstairs crossed my mind. Again, I simply enjoyed the moment. Who knew how long it would last.

I stayed out there long after the sun had completely gone down, and admired the vibrant moon. Day and night, no matter what time, all held a sense of beauty if you just knew where to look. Whoa, that was pretty deep. I patted myself on the back, enjoying my slight humor.

That's when I realized it was quite cold outside. I shivered at the oncoming wind, wishing I had brought a jacket with me. I thought about going to get one, but I realized that required me to go back to my room which was way too close to that man. I prefered the hypothermia.

So I stayed on the roof, enduring the temperature. It was probably close to midnight by now, and my eyelids begged for sleep. They constantly tugged downward, my head continually bobbing as I tried to keep my heavy head upright.

Eventually, I couldn't keep fighting the battle, and I let sleep wash over me. Not thinking about how I still resided at the edge of the roof, I let my exhaustion win. I felt the wind pick up at a relentless speed and saw a soft glow of orange through my eyelids, before I fully succumbed to the calling darkness.

Ugh, my head is killing me. I groaned as the pain overrode my nerves, a very unpleasant experience if you ask me. Peeling my eyes open, I looked up at a bright, blue sky, the tops of buildings encroaching my vision of the sky as well. Why the hell am I outside? And apparently, sleeping outside?

Slowly, I heaved myself off the pavement. I kept a hand pressed to my temple, my headache becoming a real nuisance. I heard a few whispers around me, and hesitantly, I took a peek around me. There were people, staring directly at me. Whispering to each other like a pair of stereotypical girls and flicking their eyes in my direction every few seconds, or just unabashedly staring at me.

I moved both of my hands to cover my gaping mouth, eyes wide. I was so embarrassed and uncomfortable. I don't normally like to be the center of attention, and the crowd circled me like vultures.

I frantically looked around at the buildings, hoping I wasn't far from my apartment. In my delirious state, they all looked the same. And in my present mindset, I almost missed the appearance of a random person behind me. Almost. The gasps from my vultures were a big giveaway.

"Hey miss, are you alright?" I turned around, and almost fainted on the spot. I mean, you wouldn't expect a certain webslinger in a skintight red and blue suit to be standing behind you. A superhero that belongs in the Marvel cinematic universe, which are movies! The first thought to cross my mind was that I somehow ended up in a cosplay convention, but dismissed the idea when I realized we were clearly outside on a street and that the vultures were in too much awe of the man for it to be a simple costume.

I was snapped out of my reverie when the man awkwardly scratched the back of his neck. Oh my god, I was staring at him for so long! I let loose an embarrassed giggle, before bolting inside the nearest building.

Once the doors closed behind me, I let out a deep breath. I realized my hands still covered my face, and quickly brought them down to my sides, thinking, gosh that must have been an embarrassing expression to have the entire time.

The people in the lobby looked at me weirdly. I cleared my throat and rushed over to the receptionist desk. Luckily, I learned that I went into the right building, my apartment. So I just went up the stairs as fast as I could, unlocked my door, and then shut myself inside my room.

Before I went into panic mode, a loud crash sounded behind my door, making me realize my reality. I needed a quiet place to think, away from my angry drunk of a dad. As silent as possible, I climbed out my window and up to my roof. The harsh sun beat down on my back, but I could hardly care less. The one thought repeating in my head was-

What the hell just happened?