After we ate it was time for curfew. As we entered the room Mello stopped at the window, examining the sky. "Hey, Matty. I think it's going to storm."

Hiding my panicked thoughts, I casually walked over to the window. "You really think so?" Though my reflection in the window looked fine, my voice sounded panicked. I winced.

"Something wrong, Matty?"

My mind couldn't come up with an excuse to leave fast enough. Finally, I said, "Near is scared of storms. I'm going to go check on him." I bolted out of the room before Mello could respond. I reached Near's room just as the door flew open and thunder cracked in the distance. My reflexes kicked in and I fell to my knees, hands and arms covering my head.

"Matt!" I couldn't tell who was calling my name. I just knew I had to get to them. I grabbed onto whoever was in front of me. They dropped down to my level, letting my rest my head in the crook of their neck.

"It's okay, Matty. There are no guns. It's okay." Near's familiar voice rang out above the thunder in my ears. Near pulled me to my feet, leading me into the familiar space of his room. Before he shut the door, I saw Mello reaching towards me, eyes pleading for me to come to him. Near shut the door in Mello's face, silently warning him to leave.

Mello's fist rapping on the door brought me back to the night of my parents' murder. I could hear their screams echoing in my ears. "Stop! Don't hurt them! Please! Don't kill my parents! They are all I have!" My voice cracked as I screamed the familiar words of my childhood trauma.

"The door flew open, anger coating every inch of Near's face. "Mello! Just leave already! You can't help! If anything, you're making Matt more scared! Just leave! You'll never be able to help him!"

Mello was speechless as the door was slammed in his face for the second time that afternoon. Near walked over to where I was screaming and crying in the corner. I was pulled into his arms, instantly feeling more secure. There we stayed until the storm stopped around five in the morning and Near and I fell asleep together in his bed.