FLASHBACK

My eyes remained closed as I felt soft delicate hands rub my hair. I was in someone's lap. The strong scent lingered in my nose. It was my mother. I begin to cough as the burning in my lungs intensifies. I felt soaked. My mother was humming a song that I wasn't familiar with. I could hear the birds chirping and feel the hotness of the sun on my skin. My eyes open for a moment and I close them instantly. The brightness caused a pain in my temples. "Mother?" I whisper. My voice was weak and my breaths were gasps. I wanted the burning to stop. I wanted the hotness to stop. I wanted the birds to silence. "Are you okay?" She asks, her voice sounded far away. Her hands caressed my face. "Open your eyes, darling." She soothes. I open them once more to see my mother's flawless face. Her hair was soaked, and not in its usual bun. Her makeup was smeared and her eyes were pink. "Mother, what happened? Why are you soaked?" I ask, as she sits me up gently. Her clothes were sticking to her small frame. "Darling, you nearly drowned." She says, her voice remains quiet and shrill. She moves my wet hair out of my face. "How? I can swim." I say, confused. I look down at the hot beaming concrete. "I'm so glad you're okay!" She says, holding me to her gently. She rubs my hair. "My sweet little Abrielle. I am sk glad you are okay." She says to me. I cling to her scent, her comfort, and her safety. "I promise I will never let anything ever happen to you." She whispers. And I meet her gaze and smile. It was a smile of security. It was a smile filled with love. Because I knew my mother with the flawless skin and the perfection of an angel would always keep me safe, no matter what.

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As I was released from the hospital, I felt a wave of relief to finally return home. After seeing the world for what it truly was, I was glad my mother had kept me from it for so long. I no longer yearned to see the big cities or the endless plains of grass and skies. I wanted to stay enclosed in my house, far away from people.

My eyes look away from the car window. The car ride was silent. My mother's face was looking straight ahead. I could see the wrinkles around her eyes. How long have they been there? I never even noticed them til now. The buildings turned to grasslands, and the traffic turned to an occasional vehicle passing.

   I hear a breath next to me. It sounded painful. "Mother, are you okay?" I ask, analyzing her face. She hits the steering wheel and shakes her head.

"No Abrielle. I am not." She says.
    "What's wrong? I didn't do it mother." I say.
She shakes her head again. "I told them not to do it. Abrielle, I told them not to." She says, a tear falls down her face.

"Do what, mother?" I whisper. I stare at her face.

Her eyes don't leave the road, not even for a split second. "You are on television. They called you crazy! All sorts of things! It was all lies. They are saying you are a suspect. All the lies, for goodness sakes. Damn it! I told them not to!" my mother was hysterical.

I bite my lip. Everyone knows me as some crazy person who tried to kill her best friend. Nikki doesn't even remember anything. What am I going to do? My heart begins to race. "Mother, they can't do that to me. Why would they do that?" I look to my hands. They were now ringing with sweat.

"Honey, I don't know but they aren't taking you away from me." She says, then she gasps. "Oh my gosh, your father. He is going to find you. He will know where we've been hiding!" She screams. She takes a sharp turn to the left.
My body transfers towards the window. "What will he do, mother?" I whisper. She doesn't hear me. "Oh my gosh!" She screams. I grip the handle of the door. I could see my driveway in the view. Almost home.

"Abrielle, I can't let them or him take you. You're my flesh and blood. Oh my gosh. What am I going to do!?" I could see the tears pouring down her cheeks. Her mascara on her cheeks. "I am not leaving anywhere." I state. She goes quiet. "Oh honey, you have alot to learn. The world is much worse than this, trust me." She says, wiping a cheek.

She pulls in the garage and turns the engine off. We sit there in silence for a moment before getting out. She breathes in deeply. "We will make it. We will be okay." She whispers and then the door opens and shes out. I close my eyes. The nightmare just has begun.

My mother paced the house frantically. I could hear her feet stomping up and down the staircase and her panicked breaths. I stand out my doorway and listen as she dials a number. "Charles? Can you please come over?" she gasps.

I lean my head against the door way and slide down the door frame. My hands meet my face and tears begin to fall. I wanted more than anything to leave this situation and hope for Nikki's memory to come back.

  I hear the front door swing open down stairs. "Thank you for coming. I just don't know what to do Charles!" She yells. "I don't know what to do either but I really think you should take a seat. You're hyperventilating." He says.

I move towards the top of the staircase. I could see Charles standing behind the couch. I couldn't see my mother. "Where is she?" He asks, lowly. "She's in her room. Charles! What if they take her away from me!?" She says.

I bite my lip. I wasn't going anywhere. Nobody could make me. "Should I go talk to her?" Charles asks. "No. Just let her be alone for awhile. I hope she didn't hurt Nikki. I really hope she didn't." She says.

Anger boils in me. Why would my mother even consider me hurting Nikki?! I would never hurt my best friend. I don't care how crazy my mind might be, I would never. I stomp down the stairs without thinking. Anger burning clearly on my face. "Why would you even say that?!" I snap.

My hands were in tight fists. My mother meets my gaze and her mouth opens to say something. "Honey, I didn't- " I don't let her finish. "Why would you say that about your own child!" my voice was high pitched. My eyes were watering.

Charles walks towards me but I just back up away from him. "Nobody is on my side. Do you know it feels? To feel like your being cornered? I didn't do it mother!" My feet lead me up to my room. I slam the door loudly.

I begin to sob as I throw the vases perfectly lined on my dresser. The glass shatters and some bits hit my face. I stomp the shattered glass on the floor with my bare feet. I feel the pain and wince but don't even consider stopping. I eyed the blood pouring on the floor. I walk over to the balcony, my bloody trail behind me. I knock the delicate flowers off the edges of the rails. I slam the door behind me and fall on my bed.

The blood continues to run down my feet and drips onto the floor. The house was silent besides my heavy breaths and hiccuping. I look up at the mirror on the wall. I had cuts and gashes on my face. I had bits of glass still stuck in my cheeks. My hair was in tangles.

I sit up and wince at the sharp pain in my feet. I lift my mattress to see the lighter. I stare at myself in the mirror as I flick the flame several times.

I put the lighter at the ends of my hair and wait to watch as it burns. As soon as my hair edges close to the flame, the door flings open. I see Charles and my mother. My mother screams my name and I feel my eyes roll in the back of my head.