He quietly shut the door as he entered the apartment. The clock showed 03:36. His keys jingled as he placed them on the counter. The knife sits in his peripheral vision, tonight that wasn't the man's focus. He walked into the bathroom and switched on the lights, it flickered harshly in contrast to the darkness of the previous room. He lowered his legs into a sitting position and proceeded to slowly wrap the bandages around his arm. He did this mechanically, like a robot, it was almost like he had done this a thousand times. Once he was done, he quietly opened a door next to his bedroom and peered in. A young girl slept peacefully in the corner in a soft bed, a bag next to bed had a name tag. Lucy. The man hadn't noticed that he was holding his breath until he let out a sigh of relief. Slowly closing the door to the room, he proceeded to his own room and collapsed onto his bed. For the first time in ten years he had fallen asleep without the need to consult the bottle next his bed that was fill with Benzodiazepines pills.

~~~He felt the slam of a fist finding its target on his nose. Flashes of red filled his vision as he stumbled back. In his daze he heard the sound of rummaging, high school uniforms fill his vision demanding more. More of what? The man didn't know. Legs flew to his face as he struggle to block the blows, slowly the scene merged to his Aunt screaming at him and then breaking down in tears, in her hands she clutched a photo. Smiling parents and a stoic young boy stood in the middle. My fault. According to her. According to her.... According...........accord.......acc......a....~~~

Monotone beeping. His hand silently moved to the button, once pressed, the beeping stopped. Beads of sweat dotted his neck as he silently moved to the shower, breath slightly uneven.

The sound of a pan sizzling echoed from the kitchen. The young man walked into the room half naked while drying his hair with a towel.

"Eggs and mushrooms today. Smells nice Lucy." The man said tranquilly.

Lucy turned around at the mellow voice, one hand still on the handle of the pan.

"Oh Cole, you're up.........."

Suddenly Lucy's face turned 3 shades redder than normal. She quickly spun around and avoided Cole's questioning glance. Despite her embarrassment she had noticed the cuts on his arms and legs.

"Please......uh...."

"Hmmmm?"

"Shirt....uh.....p-p-p-l-e-a..."

Cole noticed the redness of her cheeks and walked silently back to his room to get a shirt, under his breath he whispered.

"...sorry...sorry...sorry...I am so sorry...."

Cole's long bangs hid his true emotions. Lucy deserved better, she didn't need him. He was only a storm cloud hanging over her bright and promising life.

She cooked for him, cared for him and looked after him. He had nothing to return but gloom. After dropping out of school at year 10, he wandered the streets homeless and cold. A middle aged man found him digging through food scraps on multiple occasions and on one (un)fortunate night Cole witnessed a murder in front of his eyes. Kindness in the middle aged man's heart combined with small hints of greed lead him to taking in both Lucy and Cole. Since then, Cole worked for the man as an errand boy. The only thing Cole could provide Lucy, was merger amounts of money just enough for them two to live on. Lucy could live on without him. He couldn't live without Lucy. She was the only other person he cared for, like a younger sister he never had.

When Cole returned back to the kitchen, Lucy had set out plates filled with the day's breakfast. She beamed at him as he sat down opposite of her. He felt undeserving of it. When they had finished eating, Cole wordlessly cleaned the dishes as Lucy got ready for primary school. After walking her to the entrance of the school gates, after multiple protests that she will be fine on her own, Cole wandered around the long way to the detective firm, along the wat he revisited the events of the previous night. Events of his dead past lingered in the background of mind.

He died. He felt the pain. Why was he still alive?

"Do you wish to know?" He twirled the pawn around in his hand, a smirk danced across his face.

He paused. Who was that?

"Me"

Fear and shock crossed Cole's face

"Who...."

"Whoever you wish me to be" He threw the pawn high into the air

"If you wish to know then die"

"Wha...."

Silence.

Cole stared into rushing traffic around him.

Hesitation.

"Aw, but last night you were so eager!"

Anger flashed in his eyes for a split second. Who was this voice? What does it want?

...

Was he telling the truth?

...

Cole took a step forward to the edge of the footpath.

...

A step over the edge. A rushing car.

.

.

.

.

.

The pawn turned into a murky ash colour. Worry clouds the figures face but relief flooded his face as it started to glow a bright, brilliant orange. Flames.

"(_)" A wider smile than previously filled his face. Manic. Laughter.

Author's note: There should be a underline under g in legs for those who use the app to read.