He shook from the fear and nervousness that flooded through his viens and body. His vision had gone blurry, and his hearing became muffled. What was once clear words were now barely understandable as Celica talked with his parents. He knew what they were talking about, but it helped very little. He wasn't even sure if he wanted to tell them, what if it got out? What if people at school found out? What if school found out? What if...his dad found out? He never wanted people to think he was weak - he always tried to keep a front up - hiding his pain, fear, isolation, but that front was breaking down.

He wiped the tears that blurred his vision, clearing it up and seeing the world more clearly once again. The dark, painful world in which he suffered. The knife lay on the floor beside him, the blade stained with his blood, his paw dripping the crimson liquid. He had already cut himself in the time Celica left him, and his eyes looked at it, weighing the only two - in his eyes - possiblities it brought him. More pain, or a quick cut and freedom. Giving up, it sounded so easy, so quick, so...free, but at the same time so scary, so weak... Did he really want that? 'I don't know what I want anymore...'

"Caelum?" A female voice called up the stairs, but he made no response. Instead, he gripped the handle of the item that could grant the freedom he craved. He wanted to do it, but at the same time he thought about how little of his life he had lived - how much he still could have. Who knew? Maybe the future held happiness, maybe, his dad would change, become the dad he used to be. Maybe he'd make real friends, true friends he could confide in, who knew - he might even find someone to call his mate in the far future. Could he waste those chances on certain freedom? How could he even be sure ending it would grant him freedom?

The door opened, and Caelum turned to the family of three rabbits that stood there. Sorrow, pity, confusion, many emotions were evident in there eyes, but one that stood out, the look of determination. With shaky steps, Celica approached. The young rabbit was scared, it was obvious - here they were, three rabbits, and a fox armed with a knife whose soul was so broken he could do something he'd regret at any moment. Grabbing the paw that gripped the blades handle, he ever-so-gently took it from his grasp. "Caelum?" He whispered. "Mom and dad are here, you can talk to them you know."

His eyes held uncertainty - could he really talk to them? "I don't know..."

"Caelum, I promise you - you're safe. You can trust us." His mom walked forwards before crouching down infront of him. It hurt her - seeing him in as much distress and pain as he was. Caelum, he was like a son to them, a brother to Celica. They loved him - he was always a bubbly lively soul, always trying to have fun and make them smile... But now, he was so broken... "How long have you been doing this?" She gestured to the dripping cuts.

"Best of a year he said." Celica spoke up after Caelum held his tounge, not wanting to speak. "Come on Caelum, you told me you'd talk to them. I'm here bro."

"Look... Just forget about it - I'm...I'm fine" He lied through his teeth, he was FAR from fine.

"Caelum, you obviously aint. No one should be feeling this way, especially someone as young as you. C'mon, tell me - you can trust me. Is it to do with your dad?"

"W...w...w...what?" The young fox couldn't believe it - how on earth did she link it to his dad so quickly. "N..no...no of course not..." His stuttering gave his lie away.

"It is... I knew there was something a little off about it... The brusies on your arm were the big giveaway. Caelum, what else has he done to you? We need to know."

His eyes flashed towards Celica, silently asking for reassurance. "We're here for you."

"His... hit me... But it was just that one time... I swear... He hasn't ever hurt me before..." The fear of what could happen if he told the truth helped him keep his nerves under control, ensuring he didn't stutter and the lie he told sounded more true that his previous attempt, and, luckily for him, they seemed to fall for it.

"Why?"

"He was angry and upset about Mom, and he just hit me... He told me he was sorry, that he never meant to... It was just a mistake" It felt so wrong to him, lying to those who cared for him, but he couldn't find the courage to burden them with the truth. He wouldn't burden them - they didn't need to know. How long could he keep it all secret? All his life if he had to. "Look, I don't want to talk about this... Its nothing I swear"

"Self-harm isn't nothing Caelum. Anthro's have died from it, and we don't want to hear that you have too. Caelum you're like a son to us, a brother to Celica. We don't want to see you broken like this, we want to see the Caelum that we ended up loving - the bubbly, funny, kind and polite young fox that always brought a smile to us." She wrapped her arms around him, much like a mother would do for her crying kits when they were scarred or sad. Soon after both Celica and his dad joined in with the hug, causing Caelum to return it, even allowing a smile to grace his features. Could this be the start of a bright future? He highly doubted that whoever decided his fate would show him mercy.