He looked at the burner. The possibilities lay in front of him; his salvation, his escape. The thoughts and shameful memories breezed through his mind. Now that he had once again taken notice to them, they began to blend together and swarmed around his head. He fell to the ground in agony. He needed to get those memories to stop! To fade away…but he couldn't!

His hand thrust up into the air, feeling for the ON button on the stove. He found it and slammed it down. He heard the flame ignite, and shoved his hand through the charcoal, feeling the heat on his hands. It burned. So painfully.

He held back his urge to scream however, very well knowing that although he lived alone, his brother lived very conveniently close; this burning was to be his and only his secret. No one could know. No one.

The thoughts flew away, slowly, but they did. The pain intensified. He looked into the flames licking away at his hands. His mind had detached the burning limb from its records and he looked to it monotonous, apathetic and unworried. The fire could still be felt.

He slowly and carefully pulled his hand out, ignoring the sting the fresh air brought to it. It was too noticeable. He'd have to find a way to cover it up.

Because no one can know.

~Happy Fourth of July, 2012~

There was a meeting today. Or whatever it was. There were a lot of countries meeting there. I was still recovering from some little burn on my hand and sitting in my seat when I heard Geneva say something about…a proton. Or something.

"Heh, that's great. It's another one of those moments, on a day reserved for American pride in nationality, for Europeans to remind the Americans how much better they are."

My face burned and I clutched my papers and walked out quickly. As I walked down the stairs, I fumed silently about…anything. I was just so… It was my birthday, goddamn. Why can't I be left alone on one day of my life? Why don't people think that I don't notice that path of fire I leave behind everywhere-including myself?

Even the first time I was burnt, no one noticed. And no one even remembers it now. That overlooked war, that "Britain fluke." It was the second time I had to confront him that way. But he didn't cry like during the Revolutionary. He didn't just have a gun.

He took a lantern and kerosene to my face. And to the rest of my capital.

~Happy Forth of July, 2012~

Star: Maybe I'll add more. I dunno. I think I will, but it won't go anywhere important. The idea of America burning himself instead of cutting or anything, that was an idea I kinda took as an experiement from "Lies for You" by an awesome fanfic writer whose name I can't really remember at the moment (^^;;). I didn't originally plan to add a Fourth of July bit, but after hearing about the [I'm sooo bad at anything science related, but that (particle?) Geneva was looking for when slamming protons together, revealing they're 99% sure they discovered it], and my brothers quote above about EuropeAmerica, and my own personal experience this July Fourth, how could I not add any?

(Boring personal stuff, avoid if wants)

I've just been feeling very panicky lately. Otakon has me stressed a bit, and some iffy stuff with friends (nothing to do with the U.K., of course ;P). My parents are stressing me too, and then all this nonsense about birthdays is making me feel all attention-grabby and it's just bugging me…

Anyways, thanks for reading and then maybe reading paragraph above :D Happy Fourth!