The arousal of pain from somewhere in her abdomen woke Cassandra. She stirred and then curled into a ball. It wasn't hard to figure out that the pain was a sign of her coming monthly period. She hated her period. Not because of discomfort or pain, but more from the coppery scent of blood.

She abhorred blood. It was a reminder of all the harrowing wounds she fostered when she was a child. Some children were blessed to have had the ability to forget the events of their younger years, but unfortunately for her, her memories were bathed with endless clarity. Perhaps, her brain had dwelled on those memories and had maintained them as a warning.

With a careful, measured pace, she eased herself out of bed. As she did, a jagged sensation surged through her lower body, causing her legs to tremble, like a fawn taking its first steps. The pain that followed was sharp and relentless, slicing through her like a jolt of lightning, leaving her breathless.

She took a moment, gathering her strength to regain her composure. Once she felt a bit more stable, she gently placed a hand on her belly, summoning all her willpower to make her way towards the bathroom.

Every part of her ached.

Once she managed to reach the bathroom, her expression deepened into a more pronounced frown. The light switch was inconveniently positioned near the door, just high enough to require her to stretch on her tiptoes to reach it. She hesitated, aware that extending her body might disrupt the gentle pressure her hand was applying to her abdomen, a pressure that was currently helping to mitigate the pain. However, understanding that she had not other choice she did what had to be done.

Click...

Bright light immediately enveloped her surroundings.

She sighed as she moved forward, then took a mental note to ask her so-called mother to have the light switch fixed somewhere lower. Someplace that was easier to reach.

She took a few steps forward and soon found herself in front of her bathroom sink. Laboriously, she reached out to open the medicine cabinet above and hoped that she'd find aspirin or anything to help ease the pain.

A false sense of security. Once again, those words corrupted her head when she found the cabinet void. Why did I even bother, she mused in dismay. Frowning, she turned to her heel, and exited the bathroom. As she strolled on the cold floorboards, a tear threatened to escape her eyes when the muscles in her lower body coiled tighter. She grimaced, the pain was too much, but instead of allowing the tear to cascade down her cheek, she chastised herself. She'd lived with pain far greater than her cramps.

She'd be fine.

She kept that thought in mind and then closed her eyes. She must learn to take all the pain in, live with it, release it, and not be controlled by it, because her pain had always been hers alone. No one would ever come to ease them for her. It was her pain, her sorrow, her torment. Hers alone. She was fine with it. She was fine. with it.

Alone... Alone... Alone. No one would rescue her. No one would bother.

***

The fresh morning air was too sweet for him to endure. But endurance was what always defined him. He must endure.

"The house was sold a few months ago. But the new owner agreed to allow you and Nathan to visit if you must."

Daniel couldn't care less. All that mattered to him was for school to start. He couldn't wait to meet new friends. He missed having new faces surrounding him. He couldn't say the same for Nathan though.

"I hope the two of you will find peace in this house. I know your previous place held importance, but it was necessary to sell it. Your expenses have increased in recent months."

Nathan turned to his aunt. The woman had decided to sell their family house without their approval. It devastated him and Daniel, but what else could they have done? They were incapable of defending themselves from the cruel reality of the world, especially him. No one would ever dare to understand what he had been through, what he always had to go through, and what he would go through. Nothing...nothing will ever make sense.

"This house I bought for you and Nathan is only a breath away from your previous place. It won't take a lot from you to visit if needed."

Daniel bobbed his head then turned to his right, "Nathan, we'd get through this," he murmured.

Nathan smiled, of course, they would. As long as the two of them were together, nothing would ever break them.

"And Daniel, try not to turn this into a replay of the previous years. I may not always be here for the two of you." Those were their aunt's parting words as she mounted her car and drove off. Soon, they found themselves alone, in front of a bungalow far smaller than their previous place.

"We will get through this." It was Daniel who spoke. He knew Nathan needed to hear those words. But if it were up to him. He would get rid of Nathan and live a peaceful life. Why? Why was their life too complicated? They were only thirteen, yet their existence had been plagued by irreversible damage.

"Daniel?"

Daniel smiled and asked, "What is it, Nathan?"

"I'm tired, let's head inside."

Daniel huffed, then bent down and grabbed the suitcase beside his feet. He pulled out the keys in his pocket, opened the door, and made their way inside.

The make of the house looked simple. Everything seemed modest. The couch, table, chairs, and the few framed portraits that hung on the walls were all simple...forgettable... Just as they liked it. Complicated or laud colored things only added to the turmoil in them. Simple was better.

"Close the curtains."

The simple request made Daniel curse. If only, he could get rid of Nathan.

"The sun hurts my eye, Daniel."

"Then close them."

"That would be impossible. Don't you think so?"

Yes, of course, Daniel knew that. Nothing between him and Nathan was easy, they were complicated in many ways.

"Fine, but let's have breakfast before we head to our room. I'm starving," Daniel murmured as he went to close the half-drawn curtain of the window in front of them.

"I'm not hungry."

Daniel turned to his heel, stomped his foot, and grabbed a lock of his hair. Eyes blazed with fury he screamed, "But I'm hungry and I want to eat!"

Nathan refused to reply.

Silence.

Stillness.

Just as always. Whenever he and Nathan got into an argument it all ended with a hush. Perhaps, that was good. They couldn't afford to hurt each other. That would be fatal for either one of them. It won't matter who'd win if they had a physical fight, because they'd both suffer the consequences.

Minutes passed but both Nathan nor Daniel hadn't said a word to each other. Silence encompassed the space between their thoughts like a thick dark shroud. The clock which hung on the wall beside them ticked, one... two... three, then the silence broke.

"I'm sorry. Let's eat."

Those words were said in a whisper and that was enough for Daniel and Nathan to forget the argument. They made their way toward the kitchen in silence. Who said those words though, neither of them could tell.

***

Cassandra was awakened by a knock on her door. Slowly, she opened her eyes and raised her hand above her head then stretched her body like a cat, but in an instant, the pain in her lower abdomen made itself known once more. She took a deep breath and hoped that it was enough to calm her. Deep breathing always worked for her, but as she edged her body to the left to leave her bed, it felt like the pain shot from her lower body up to her head

"Cassie, it's mom. Come out, honey. I made you breakfast."

I... she muttered, but her voice failed her. Her cramps were getting worse. Respite, she needed something, anything to ease the pain. Albeit hesitant to ask, she said, "Do you have an aspirin?"

A worried tone answered her from beyond her closed door. "What's the matter, honey? Yes, I have some, I'll get it for you."

After those words were said, she heard the receding footsteps of her mother. It might have taken a whole minute before a knock landed on her door once more.

"Honey, open up. I have the medicine."

Cassandra stood from the bed and almost dragged herself towards the door. She felt like she was about to fragment into a thousand pieces as wave after wave of pain shot from her lower abdomen up to her stomach which in turn moved higher to her head. She was almost at the door when her sight blurred and before she could grab the knob to her door, she fainted.

***

A loud thud forced Rina's eyes to widen. She held a glass of water in one hand and the aspirin in the other. But before she could decide on what to do, she had already dropped both items from her hand and banged on her daughter's door. She must have repeatedly hit the door with her arm and shoulders when the sudden, heavy footfalls made their way to her ears. She turned her head to the side and she saw Albert with a look of worry on his face.

"Do you have a spare key!" Rina screamed.

Though confused, Albert nodded his head and ran down the stairs. He returned less than a minute later with a bunch of keys.

"Which one is for her room?" The panicked voice of Rina echoed around the corridor of the second floor. She felt like the foundation of her happiness just snapped and she was left once more with a hollow and serrated knife sheathed in her heart.

Albert saw her unease, so he landed a hand on Rina's shoulder, gently pushed her to the other side, and took it upon himself to unlock the door to Cassandra's room.

After the door was pushed open, Rina screamed. Because before her, sprawled on the floor was her daughter. Her skin was pale with legs smeared in blood.