Matthew paced in his room as he heard Alfred and his parents arguing about… something. He didn't know what they were arguing about, and only really hoped it wasn't anything to do with him. He didn't want to feel like he was being a burden on the people in his life. Well, he always felt that way a little, but he didn't like it.

Maybe they were arguing about one (or more) of Alfred's friends again… Matthew had noticed that being a bit of a pattern. Alfred liked his friends and didn't see any problems at all with them and his parents only saw the flaws and negative sides to them all.

Matthew sighed. Why did he even try to understand what was happening? He wasn't involved. He basically never was – in anything. Sure it technically was good that he wasn't involved when people were mad at each other, but… it was just all the time that he wasn't involved. And to make matters worse, he was constantly forgotten. As if being alone wasn't enough, people had just collectively decided he wasn't worth being noticed unless it benefited them.

He sighed again, pacing faster and probably tracking his shoes' footprints into the carpet. The shouting got louder and all Matthew wanted to do was just get out of the house.

Then again, though, they might actually notice him going out the front door or something along those lines… They are the only people who've remembered him in the past, what? Two years? However long he'd been living with them.

Maybe he could go out the window and go for a walk outside without them all noticing that he was gone. Hell, while he's going away, he could even decide to leave for good… It would be a little fun to see if they looked for him. How far they would look. How long they would look…

He guessed it wouldn't be very long or far that they would look for him – he'd probably be forgotten until it would benefit them to have him there and to remember his very existence.

Matthew hummed in thought. Maybe if he left with the minimum number of items – just the bare essentials – then they wouldn't notice him gone for days, at least. He knew Alfred was going to be busy with his friends for the whole of that week, and his parents rarely even checked that Matthew was alive.

Maybe Matthew would be able to make it to another city… That would be exciting.

He thought it over some more, debating with himself and what he should choose to bring with him and where to go.

Ultimately, he decided to bring all his personal things – which really only ended up being a small stuffed polar bear he'd brought with him everywhere since forever, a notebook that he planned on using to document whatever happens now, and a picture of him and his birth parents. The essential things he packed were, of course, three changes of clothes, all the money he'd saved up over the past few years, which was around three hundred dollars, his phone – that he knew would be paid for as Alfred's parents continued to think it was their son's backup phone – and the hygienic stuff he used most often.

Matthew took a deep breath, and, after opening the latch on the bedroom window, he put on the backpack full of his items and hopped out the window, excited for a new life outside of far too forgetful people and for new adventures on his own.

After about an hour of Matthew walking along the city streets at what was now nighttime, he reached an intersection and, pausing for the light to allow him to walk across, he grabbed the notebook and pen from his bag and sat there, beginning to write the start of his adventures.

August 5th, 2013 – Age 16

Hello. Matthew Williams here, just ran away from Alfred's family.

They always forget me, so why not see how long it takes for them to figure it all out? Seems fun enough. And I get to (hopefully!) go on some cool adventures in other cities too! It's really a win-win situation, if you ask me.

I think I want to try going North first, see what cities or towns are there and see if anyone in those places can remember me.

Hold on, I have to walk across this intersection. I'll write again when I exit this city and/or find somewhere to sleep. Goodbye for now!

Author Note: Sorry the chapter is a bit short, I just don't really know what I can add to it at this point, you know?- Anyway, the rest of the chapters will be much longer. See y'all next update! (Which should be tomorrow.)