All my eyes could see in the vast darkness is simply that.

I don't know where I am. I don't know who brought me here.

I was afraid, yet unafraid. This place felt familiar.

My gaze shifted everywhere as I turned around slowly in a circle, nothing, just howling wind and darkness.

"Found you again."

I looked in front of me to see someone standing in the far distance. I couldn't see their appearance in detail nor did I recognize their face, all I could tell is that it was a tall human man dressed in some kind of outlandish clothing.

I wanted to speak, but I couldn't for some reason. I didn't make another attempt after trying four times. I stared at the man with a curious expression, tilting my head, but I kept up my guard.

"You really did it. I'm glad," he delightfully spoke.

I blinked, trying to remember any latest accomplishments I've made recently.

"It's okay if you don't remember. I wouldn't want you to. Those days were terrible. You were never meant to be caught up in that mess...the mess I so eagerly, and selfishly, wanted you to be in for the right reason."

I closed my eyes, bowing my head as a way to say "I'm sorry" for whatever may have happened between him and me...despite our never meeting.

"Oh...it's time to go. See ya."

I tried to move forward, but as soon as I did, I found myself screaming underwater. I tried to pull my head back, but something or someone held it down.

The sting of water traveled up my nose and clogged my lungs and my head, making me feel lightheaded. I didn't understand what was happening for me to end up like this...

'Am I going to die?'

As if a miracle is answering me, I felt the thing or person pushed off of me, and someone pulled me up, dragging me away from...a lake? What was I doing at a lake? I can't...remember right now...

"Breathe, Ami! Breathe!"

"You're trying to kill my little sister?!"

"Cough, Ami! You gotta cough up the water!"

With the help of one of those voices hitting my back, I began coughing up the water that clogged my lungs, sneezing while at it to clear my head. I shook my head, letting the droplets of water fly everywhere.

My body is shaking uncontrollably, I'd never felt so cold before, I was on the verge of dying; the fact that my body feels warm inside is more fearful than shaking from the cold water.

I curled up to the person behind me holding me close, "Wh-Wha...What ha-ppened?" I finally spoke.

"Rika, take care of Ami! I'm gonna go help Kimy!" I heard Joon say as he gently moved me toward Rika.

"Ami, Kimy saw you getting cornered by those bullies and immediately came punching at the two trying to drown you! Joonie pulled you out! I was right behind him! I'm so sorry! This is all our fault because we didn't walk with you this morning!"

"Rika...I don't want an apology," I told her. "I...I just want to go home."

"But Ami, we have to get you to a hospital or-"

"I'm okay. The water in my lungs has cleared out, and I can breathe fine now. I don't care how you tell the story to the other parents, but do not involve any of yourselves...I'll take the blame."

With those words spoken in the foggy crisp morning air, I turned in the opposite direction of the schoolhouse and walked back home...hoping Mama and Uncle Rio had left already for work.

I refused to come out of my room.

I refused to eat.

I refused to drink.

I refused to answer the knocking on my door.

I refused to acknowledge anything that happened 2 days ago.

I just...wanted to be alone.

I looked up from the polished marble patio past the rails and up to the cloudy gray sky, mind wandering.

"...Are you lonely, too?" I smiled, "Maybe...maybe we can be friends?"

An immediate frown replaced my smile. Fool me once, that is on that person; fool me twice, that's my fault.

There's no such thing as "friendship". People demonstrate who they are after a while of knowing them, they start to show their true intentions bit by bit, and it only worsens from there.

Soon, the sky is going to start striking down good people just because it wasn't feeling good today.

So...what does that make Rika and Joon? My brother and I have been friends with them since I was an infant...and we're only 4, 5, 6, and 7. I really hope it doesn't come to that...

Hearing another knock on my door, I let out a long breath of air, 'This is...the fifth time today. Who is it now...?'

"Kamilah...sweety...Aunt Yui's here to visit you," Mama uttered, sounding completely heartbroken.

"..."

"She says she can help you feel better. Could you please just...please let her see you? You know, she's a doctor. She just wants to make sure you're alright."

"..."

I could hear her audibly sniffle before her footsteps faded and a pair of new ones approached my door. She must've been crying for hours...

"Kamilah? How are you, darling?"

"..."

"Listen. I heard what happened 2 days ago, and I'm devastated that happened to you, I wish I could've been there. The police are looking into what really happened right now. All parents and children have given their story except for you. Do you...want to?"

"..."

"I understand if you don't want to answer that right now. You're going through a lot in your head. I...I'm so happy you're safe. When I first got wind of this, I got so worried and hurried over as soon as I could. I...We could've lost you forever, Kamilah. I...I would've failed him..."

My body raised, "...Him?" I asked.

She stuttered, as if trying to get herself together, "U-Um...as I was saying, I'm happy you're well. Tell me, are you injured anywhere?"

"...Doctor, you said "him". Who is "him"?"

"..."

"The same man you mentioned to me a couple of weeks ago? That "him"?" I suddenly felt light, "It's okay. I'm not mad at you for telling me; this isn't your fault, it's my fault because of my own ignorance. We'll still keep this our secret, right? So that answers your question about filing my story on this case. Just tell the officers that...I tried to start a fight with them because I wanted to bring about my Quirk on some weaklings. They do not have to know the truth."

"But Kamilah-"

"I don't care," I monotonously told her. "Mama and Uncle Rio plan on moving because this makes their image look bad, right? I have no reason to care if I'm not going to remain here. How funny...moving because of their image, not because their daughter and niece was hurt."

"Now, Kamilah, that is not true! They love you-"

"How is...big brother? Joon? Rika?"

"...They're alright. I will not lie to you, but...the police are starting suspect that Hakim and Joon-Woo started this."

"..."

"Kamilah?"

"...I will take all the responsibility. If you do as I've requested, Doctor, I will leave my room and you will be able to examine me."

There was a long silence between us. She must have been weighing her options. There's not much choice she had, either lie to police officers that it was all my fault and we move or I die of famine and dehydration.

With this...new feeling...I won't put it past me.

I smiled again, 'She did say she would keep a promise to "him".'

As I thought I would hear, her footsteps faded away and a small giggle escaped my lips.

I hadn't any idea I just got my first taste of manipulation...and I hadn't any idea it would grow.

Manipulation is where this got me.

It's not like I was unexpecting it, but I didn't know the pain would be this harsh.

Five.

Five months.

It's only been five months since the incident back home in Iwaizumi.

Time makes things feel distant...but my "friendship" with Rika-chan and Joon-Woo was one of the few attachments I had there. Of course, I missed my Grandma and Grandpa, they weren't involved in the situation anyhow...

The last tether to Iwaizumi was fading as well. I could feel that curious happy-go-lucky little four-year-old Miri burning out. She was changing drastically on the inside, if not by now.

I felt like I'd developed a 7th sense, I count my Quirk as the 6th; apparently, it came 2 months before my birthday. It's as if I'm more aware of my surroundings, more observant, more...quick to react to things happening.

This began around the same time when my Mama and Aunt were arguing about me. I was sitting on the living room couch, ignoring them as best as I could while watching the TV.

Uncle Rio was called in for a patrol, and Hakim was at school. For some reason that I pretended to not know, Mama wanted me to be home-schooled.

I don't know what they were arguing about me for, why, when, or how. I honestly didn't care so long as a fight didn't break out.

"OH, REALLY, JAMEELA? ARE YOU GONNA KEEP DENYING HER THAT? YOU REALLY THINK NORIO IS GONNA GO FOR THAT?!"

"SHE'S NOT HIS DAUGHTER! AND YOU, AREN'T HER MOTHER!"

Mama got so angry, she grabbed the nearest thing to her and threw something across the room, intending to hit Auntie.

Without thinking it through, I waved my hand to the right, Aunt Yui's body following the motion and she landed on the chair next to her.

Because I made sure Auntie didn't hurt herself, I didn't have enough time to react...so the object hit my head, making me immediately fall off the couch and onto the carpet below.

An exasperated gasp was followed by a slap to the skin. I didn't see it, but I knew my Aunt slapped Mama. I was too worried about the bleeding starting to pour from the right of my head and down my face.

I placed my hand on the spot, applying pressure while trying to sit up. I didn't scream, I didn't yell, I didn't cry, I didn't shout, I didn't sob. I didn't do anything. I was too in shock.

All I remember is my Aunt picking me up from the floor and running out of my home with me in her hands. When I came to, she explained everything to me. "Mama got so upset because she didn't want to believe the accusations of the children calling you a "villain's brat"," she said. "Don't worry about her. You're staying with me for a few weeks until everything calms down," she said.

Oh, how I wanted my Aunt to keep me with her forever...

Because as soon as two men and a woman in black suits came to her doorstep within 3 weeks, I was taken back to that place I called "home".

Mama had gotten worse when I returned. I noticed she was on more prescribed medicines, and taking more than she should've sometimes.

The verbal insults soon sprouted into emotional deceit, like receiving candy after earning 99 points on a test only for it to never be given to you, then there was the physical abuse.

I was forced to stay in home-schooled education because "it was better for me" she convinced Uncle Rio. No...it was better for her; she would take out her anger, mishaps, misgivings, lies, deceit, and negativity on me either for the tiniest mistakes or none at all every chance she got when Uncle Rio nor Hakim was around. The cuts, the bruises, the pill force-feeding, etc...were all hidden behind frilly bright clothes I've come to hate.

Why didn't I tell them she was doing all of this to me?

She said she'd lie about me, she'd say "she was trying to hurt me with her Quirk because she knew the truth about her father. It wasn't my fault, I swear. I'll put her into a mentally ill asylum". At this point, I figured she knew Aunt Yui told me about my Father. Even if those kids hadn't said anything...she still would've jumped to that conclusion. The only time I'm spared is when she's off saving random strangers on the streets and not her daughter.

Do you know how much I love my uncle and my big brother? I love them so much I wouldn't dare bother them with this mess. Uncle Rio has worked so hard and has come so far that he's his own boss now, and got his own agency. And Hakim...ever since that incident, he vowed to me that that was the day he's going to work hard to become a hero. He informed me that when I was younger, he made the same promise before...but never ventured into elaborating on that.

I blinked, 'Now that I think about it...I'll ask what he means by that when he comes home later.'

After three months of this, I have endured...and I'm at my limit. If I'm being honest, I wouldn't mind going to the mental institution, it might help me...I wouldn't mind going back to being how I used to be before.

My heart felt like it was squished for a split second, and I leaned forward on my bed, holding my right hand over it.

I looked at my periwinkle-colored alarm clock on my white nightstand, "Is it time already?"

Oh...to add to this madness, I'm on multiple medications just like Mama. Mine are different from hers, I have antidepressants, oxycodone, hydrocodone, and some others I can't pronounciate just yet. I began to take the prescribed pills, swallowing them with a glass of water and placing it back on my coaster. Auntie prescribed these to me...but she's around less now, I only see her on my visits.

The time is 8 pm, a Monday, a nice night to enjoy the stars from my windowsill instead of my balcony because it's wide for my size and I placed pillows next to it for nights I can't go to sleep so easily.

"It's almost dinner time, too." I hopped down from my bed, headed to the door, and opened it.

As I made my way downstairs, I put on the best smile I could muster, it began to tremble a little as I neared the kitchen.

'Do not be scared, Kamilah. Fear is just a human concept made to keep you from reaching your goal because you're scared of the consequence,' I confidently encouraged myself.

Before I could walk around the corner, a pair of legs came into my view and turned toward me...legs I didn't want to see right now.

"Kamilah...I've been calling you this whole time, sweetheart," she cooed nicely.

I bowed my head, "Sorry, Mama. I was taking my medicine."

"..."

"..."

"So responsible now. Dinner's ready," she said before walking back into the kitchen and to the dining room.

"Okay," I said, following her.

I took my usual seat where a bowl of steaming tajine stew with a tall glass of water, a spoon, and chopsticks next to it. I kept my hunger to myself as I hopped onto the chair, steadying myself before looking at her.

She stared at the window ahead, watching the snow fall lightly for a few seconds. Her head snapped to me, but I refrained from flinching and kept her stare.

"Hakim said he'll be staying with his friends tonight, and Uncle Rio is pulling an all-nighter on a case. So it'll just be us."

On the outside, I simply nodded and remained calm. On the inside, I felt like curling into a ball and screaming out for dear life. Hopefully, just...hopefully, she doesn't break me.

"Say your prayers with me."

"Yes, Mama."

I recited the words as usual whilst mindlessly thinking if I should sleep in Hakim's room tonight with the door locked. Would that make her angrier...?

We finished the prayer and began to eat quietly amongst one another.

'We never talk about anything other than my education or Quirk development. I never tried initiating any other subjects to talk about with her because I fear how she'd react if I said anything slightly similar to my father.'

"Kamilah."

"Yes?"

"...Why don't you go make some friends?"

"...huh?"

"Friends," she said with a smile. "I know you miss Rika and Joon-Woo, so maybe you can find someone like them to talk to you when you're alone...?"

My gaze fell to the barely touched stew, "...I don't see the reason to."

"What?"

"I don't...want to make any friends. All of them can be nice at first...but their true colors will show when...they become desperate and selfish."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..Ma-"

She slammed her hands on the table, getting up as her chair fell back behind her, making me flinch. The light shaking in my body had begun as I stared at her.

"Mama..."

"True...colors? Of course, you'd say that. You're just like him, it's like I can't do anything to get you to stop acting or sounding like that god-awful man! Hell, you already look like him with just my eyes!"

"Mama, please. Calm down. Have you taken-"

"Are you insinuating I'm crazy, little girl?! You think just because you're homeschooled and smarter than the average kid, you know everything now, huh?! I know when to take my medication!"

"..."

She grits her teeth, leaning off the table, breathing heavily, "I don't know how much more of you I can take. You're an infuriating little brat, you know that?"

"..."

She slowly moved back into the kitchen, "That whole case in Iwaizumi almost cost both me and my husband's careers! Hakim could've been hurt as well! Even Mr. and Mrs. Fujisaki are weary of us! We can't afford to lose good connections because of your screw-ups! Do you really want to be the ruining of this family?!"

"No, Mama," I calmly responded.

She let out some hysterical laughter, "Well...maybe we can make that not ever come true."

"...How-"

It happened so fast, but if it weren't for me leaning back in my chair and rolling out into the living area...I would've had a large scar over my face, or worse...

I could've died.

Again.

When I turned on my side, I saw her hovering a few centimeters away, staring down at me coldly with a butcher knife in her right hand, and a butter knife in the left.

She blew some stray curls out of her face, "You look exactly like him the night he tried to kidnap you, "desperate and selfish"," she quoted me.

My eyes bulged with fear, and my teeth clenched together. My shaking body stood up as fast as it could, I was about to run when I turned around, but I felt something sting across my left upper arm and left leg, making me fall back down.

I looked down at the floorboards to see two butter knives stuck in the wood, one pinning down my dreamy blue haori.

"I'll just say "it was an accident, I was making stew for my husband and son when they come back. I only left her alone for a few minutes, she must've gotten the knives and started playing with them!" she said all while crying false tears.

I grit my teeth as I moved against the carpeted floor, jerking at the stinging in my arm and leg each time I did. I could feel the blood pouring out like tiny drops into a stream of hail.

Seeing her shadow looming over me, she roughly turned me around, pinning me between her legs with the knife raised, ready to strike. As much as I struggled, I couldn't get her off of me...and I wasn't able to use my Quirk. Why?

"You know, Kamilah...I planned on keeping you forever..."

"Mama, please, no! D-Don't do this! I promise I-I'll be better! I'll be like Ki-Kimy! Please!"

"But you seem like you'll be a hassle for the Shimizu family in the future, and for anyone, you come in contact with. Besides, you can't be like your brother when he's no better than you! You're already perfect, but just can't seem to harness that and do anything right! You're a curse!"

"Why?! I can be good! I won't upset you anymore! I'll become a hero! I'll be the best! Number 1!"

Her gleeful expression dropped instantly, "...Number 1?"

I nodded my head frantically, the tears spilling from my eyes like rushing water out of a faucet. I hadn't realized how much I was crying...or had to cry this time. They almost felt...genuine...

Almost.

"I'll become Number 1! The Symbol of Peace, like All-Might! No! Even better than All-Might! I promise!"

She let down the knife by her side, staring out the window with a dazed look, "Oh...is that so? Well...you better get training then," she softly concluded.

She stood up, took the three knives with her, set the fallen chair up, and went to the kitchen. After a long moment of silence, from what I could hear, she sat back down at the table.

Taking this time to scramble to my feet and quietly make my way to the front door, I quickly slipped on my sneakers and tied my obi around my haori before quietly opening the door and closing it.

Without a second thought in mind, I ran as fast as I could out of the yard, rounding the corner of the gate and sprinting harder than I ever have before. My life literally depended on it.

I hadn't recognized any of the roads, places, or people I was passing by because I had barely explored this city since moving here. I just kept running until I felt I was safe. There were whispers and concerned civilians but I didn't pay them any mind. I avoided people that looked like heroes, that'd only make Mama even more upset if I was escorted home by one.

Her hero name is Kassandra, she can see into the future up to certain points, but if she does it too much, it makes her tired...meaning she could probably see where I was heading right now.

Then again, she's in a blissed-out state right now. She always does that after inflicting some kind of harm on me. I think she likes hurting me...despite whatever mental issues she has of her own.

I don't know much about the hero and villain worlds. It's not like either can save me from this hell anyway...

I sighed, wiping the fake tears from my eyelids, 'Honestly, I don't care to know. What I said was a lie to keep her from ending it all. Like mother, like daughter, the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree.'

As far as I'm concerned, I'll never become a hero.

What's the saying grown-ups say? To hell with that? Hm...I know I'm 4, but maybe I shouldn't be cursing this early in life. It'll become a bad habit for whatever career I desire...

If I keep cheating death.

My legs and lungs feel like they were on fire, which made me stop thinking and look up to see I was stumbling into the middle of a snow field with something in the not-so-far distance. The voice of that man in that...weird place came back to me.

Pushing out some more steam, I kept running towards the dark...building. My legs eventually gave out and I landed on my face right in the snow. I hissed in pain as I felt the snow melt through my haori and get into the cuts I forgot about.

Leaning up quickly, I took a couple of deep breaths in and out, applying pressure on the cuts that were still leaking a little.

I opened one eye to identify the building as a traditional Japanese household. It's very wide and big, enough for a family of 6 or 7 to live here.

'Wait...a house like this in the city? Then, they must be rich! I'm trespassing on private property! But I can't move like how I want to now, I'm out of breath and I'm losing blood. No security alarms have gone off unless they have silent ones...? Should I call out for help? What if they think I'm setting them up? Am I...just going to bleed out here?' A bitter chuckle left me, 'I'll be greatly inconveniencing whoever lives here...'

That giggle turned into quiet sobs as I bent over, hugging myself, trying not to cry so loud so no one could hear me.

Silent cries hurt the most because you can't get every feeling out. I hate crying. I hate faux crying. It makes me look weak. But what I hate most is...feeling like bad luck and bringing it to anyone stepping into my life.

"I...I don't want to die yet..."

"Hey, you."

I looked up to where the sound of the voice came from, the watery image of a boy standing there, staring me down with precautious blue...

Blue gems, blue diamonds...in the rough...like me...

Despite the dark of night and my tears, I could tell with those kinds of eyes...he is beautiful.

Blinking my tears away, I hugged my haori closer to me, feeling insecure and uncomfortable because of how he found me like this, so pathetic and defenseless.

"You're a girl..."

I nodded in case he was asking to confirm.

"Are you okay?"

"I...I don't know."

His gaze shifted to something else, and his eyes widened. He took quick steps towards me in which I tried to get off the cold ground before he could reach me but fell back down on my bottom. He jumped off the wooden patio as I crawled back from him.

"You're bleeding out, a lot. Don't move so much..."

"J-Just leave me alone. I...I don't n-need any o-f yo-your pity!"

He gently wrapped his warm hands around mine, eyes softening, "You don't have to die yet. I won't let you."

I stared back at him, eyes full of surprise, and lips agape, not able to think of anything to retaliate against his words or actions.

"Now, let me help you live," he reassured me before picking me up in his arms and cradling me close like a baby.

"Aren't I...too heavy? I'm not...the usual Japanese kid's size..." I mumbled, moving my gaze between him and where he is heading.

"Not at all. You're a ball of adorableness," he said with a smile, a genuine smile.

I simply nodded, not sure what else to talk about so I kept quiet and let him do as he pleased for now.

The tall boy easily stepped onto the wooden porch and brought me inside a dark room illuminated by a few...blue? candles. He brought me to what looked like a sofa, placing me on the plush furniture.

He grabbed my right hand and lightly squeezed it, "I'll be back. I'm going to get a medical kit. Stay here."

Before I could respond, he had already made it to the door and was sliding it shut. I took the opportunity to observe the room while he was gone.

There's a kotatsu table, tatami designed floor and roof, wooden walls, and another small sofa. I also saw a few photos hanging on the walls, but I couldn't see any of the faces.

'This must be the living area, probably another part of it for relaxing.' I heard footsteps approaching, I sunk back into my haori, holding my breath. 'Is that him?'

The door began to slowly open, making me panic. I tried to move, looking for a place to hide.

"Big brother T-"

"Fuyumi."

I froze, staring at the slightly opened door, revealing slithers of white hair with red strays.

"Big brother Toya... What are you doing?"

"I'm...meditating. It helps me sleep at night," he lied.

"In here?"

"Yeah, the farther away my room is, the faster I'll go to get to my bed," he chuckled. "Now, go back to the other side of the house or Dad'll be mad at you."

"Okay," sang the sleepy girl's voice as her footsteps faded.

There were a few minutes of silence before the door slid open more and the boy's eyes are instantly on me. I leaned up from the couch, blinking at him curiously multiple times.

"Don't do that. How can you bleed and still be adorable..." he mumbled.

I tilted my head in confusion at what he meant but shook it off. "So...you're an older brother?"

"Yeah," he answered as he sat next to me, placing the kit between us.

"Yeah..." I smiled the best I could, "So is mine."

He looked up at me from the kit, "Quick change of subject, but it looks like someone... Did someone...try to harm you? Those aren't ordinary scratches..." he hesitantly asked.

The smile instantly faded, "...Yes."

He nodded in acknowledgment before taking out a knitting needle, thread, alcohol swabs, cotton swabs, gauze, and two large band-aids.

We sat in the eerie, yet somewhat comfortable quiet as he patched up my left arm and leg. I barely winced as he dug the needle in my skin because the cold had settled in and numbed my whole body.

When I thought he was done, I looked at a blue candle to avoid eye contact for a second before my head was turned back to him staring at my neck, sighing.

"The adrenaline must've really been kicking if you didn't feel that one," he mumbled before moving my messy curly hair behind my back, cleaning up some blood on where my right shoulder and neck meet.

As soon as he was done with that, he place a white square bandage over the cut, then placed my hair back over my shoulder and leaned back with a small smile.

"There, you're all patched up, Doll."

I bowed my head, "Thank you very much for...trying to fix this nearly broken doll."

"Nearly broken?"

I looked up with a bit of light in my eyes, gently grabbing his hands, and giving him the best smile I could put on at the moment.

"Yes, almost broken. If it weren't for you, I'd be dead. You saved me. Thank you for your kindness." I glanced at another blue candle, "It's difficult finding decent people in a world like this."

"You're...welcome."

"May I know the name of my savior?" I playfully asked, looking back at him with a soft gaze.

I could see red on his face contrasting with the blue hues on the walls. Was he getting overheated or sick?

"Todoroki..." he mumbled.

"Todoroki?"

"Toya Todoroki," he said a bit louder, "You can call me Toya."

"Toya..." I tested the name. "Thank you, Toya. Oh, right...you can't call me Doll forever. My name is Kamilah Shimizu. Do you need me to help you-"

"Kamilah," he got it on the first try. I think once he realized the surprise on my face, he smirked. "I got it on the first try, huh? It's a very pretty name by the way. What does it mean?"

I shook my head out of its stupor, "I-It means "perfect" in Arabic."

He took my left hand in his right and a strand of my hair in his other, placing his lips on the back of my knuckles.

"Ah, so that explains the pretty brown skin, rare blue eyes, and silky curls," he muttered, staring into my eyes with an emotion I'm not familiar with.

"Ye...Yes," I stuttered, a bit embarrassed.

He leaned back, letting go of my hair and hand. "Hm, you're an interesting girl for...how old are you?"

"Four."

His eyes widened, "Yeah, you're most definitely not a normal four-year-old girl. I'm 11 years old."

"I see. Your wisdom is higher than mine. I must take notes," I made a joke to lighten the situation.

He laughed quietly at the joke before sliding off the sofa, then turned towards me.

"I want to get to know you, Kamilah. Honestly, you're keeping me good company right now, I don't want you to go..."

I looked down, twiddling my fingers, "I don't want to either. I have no idea what time it is, I don't care, but I do because...I want to get home before my Ma...mother finds out I left."

"...Did your mother try to-"

"N-No!" I spoke a little too loudly, so I clapped my right hand over my mouth. "I mean...no, it was just an accident."

"...You're lying."

"How would you know that?"

"That look in your eyes earlier, when you were crying, that was the look, the desire to impress someone who wants your best or...wants you out of their sights because you've failed them."

"..."

"I'm right again," he sighed. "Do you want to go home?"

"..." I hadn't realized I was tearing up again, letting the streams pour down my cheeks. I sniffed, shaking my head.

"Okay," he whispered before making his way back to the couch, placing his right arm over me and laying my head down on his lap. "Tell me everything on your mind. I don't care if takes all night... Take your time, Doll."

To think I was foolish enough to convince myself that this would last...will break me.