Rhys watched as they sat around the table. His family. Not Gilly's. But look at him, sat there like this is his house. He shouldn't be here. I should. They looked just like the perfect family: mother, father, three kids. Perfect without him. Josh looked up, his eyes catching Rhys's. He looked away, disgust in his eyes. My own brother, and he can't even look at me. Rhys sighed, sitting down at the table beside them. The conversation stopped.
"Don't mind me." He continued to eat his breakfast in the now silent room. Josh got to his feet and walked out.
"Josh!" Hannah ran after him. A momentary silence hung in the air, then Gilly and Neville began talking again.
"So I was thinking, now we've got this new investment..." Business talk. With Gilly, the manager. The perfect son he could never be. He got to his feet.
"I'm off." No-one said anything. Rhys walked out of the house, trying to fight the loneliness rising inside him. No-one cared. Not any more. I might as well not be here. I might as well just fade away...
--
"Josh." Hannah stood outside his bedroom door. "Josh, can I come in?" There was no reply. She went in. Josh stood up, quickly rubbing his eyes, but Hannah saw the tears. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." He turned away from her.
"Is it Rhys?" Josh said nothing. "Fletch?" Nothing. "Someone from school? Josh, just tell me what's wrong!"
"I said nothing, alright!" He yelled at her. "Leave me alone!" He turned away, once more fighting tears. Hannah reached out a hand to him, gently touching his shoulder.
"I…I just want to help, Josh…"
"Just go, Han." He muttered. "Just go." He stared at the wall until he heard the door shut behind him, then curled up on his bed, letting the tears fall. All she wanted to do was help, and he was so horrible to her. He didn't even mean to be, he couldn't help it! But he hated it. All of it. I wish I wasn't here. I wish I could just fade away…
--
Hannah leaned against the wall outside Josh's room. All she wanted to do was help him, help her little brother. But she couldn't even do that right. All she could ever do was make things worse. Make people upset and ruin peoples lives. I shouldn't be here. I should just fade away…