His parents always fought. They truly did. But he wished they were fighting right now. It was better than what actually happened. 

He slumped in his chair, avoiding eye contact with the officers passing him. He didn't even want to know what was going through their heads. He didn't want any pity or accusations. He wasn't even driving the car. It had been his mom who was driving. She shouldn't have been. It was dark and foggy and pouring and the mountain road was slippery. She didn't see the truck that had gotten stuck in the middle of the road. 

He shut his eyes and took a deep breath, cringing at the pain in his ribs. He lifted his shirt to check how bad the bruising was. He wished he didn't.

The one police officer kept telling him how lucky he was to be alive with no life threatening injuries, but right now he wished he ended up like his parents. A head smashed through the window seemed better than having to live without them or figure out how he was going to live on his own at 16. No foster home would want him and there's no way that he could get a job and save enough money to live on his own. 

He saw his aunt rush right through the doors, pushing officers out of the way to try and find him. He slumped back in his chair to watch a policeman explain that he could not be reached because he's waiting for questioning. He couldn't stifle a laugh that forced its way out when she proceeded to yell at the poor man who was just trying to do his job, but he understood why she was so frazzled. She just lost her brother and doesn't know what condition her nephew was in.

Maybe she'll take me in. He sighed and shook his head of the thought. She was struggling enough already to take care of her three young kids without a husband and he would just be a burden to them. 

He sat forward, elbows on his knees, ignoring the screaming pain that shot through his left leg as he did so. He was in the car. Starting to doze. His dad yelling for her to watch out. Seeing bright headlights, then feeling like he was sitting shotgun on a rollercoaster that had just dropped. He didn't realized what had happened until the crunch. 

His head shot up. He was face to face with one of the officers. She smiled at him and handed him a coffee. He took it cautiously. 

"You look like hell, kid. Thought the coffee might help."

He smiled slightly and nodded. "Thank you." he rasped.

She started to walk away the stopped in her tracks. She turned to face him again. "You're Johnathan, right?" He nodded. She lowered her head slightly, "I heard what happened from a colleague, and I'm sorry. I know that doesn't fix anything and you'll probably hear it more than you will ever want to hear it, but I truly am. I've been there, but you're aunt seems set on taking you home with her." She laughed, "She's almost broken in here three times already and when someone threatened to have her arrested she dared him to try. She's one hell of a woman and if you're anything like her you're going to be okay. Start with the coffee, take it day by day, and see what happens. I wish you the best of luck Johnathan." She smiled at him and walked into the back room.

Johnathan was almost shell shocked. That was exactly what he needed to hear. He opened the lid of the cup and let the steam caress his face. He smiled to himself, eyes closed. I'm going to be okay.

"Oh God, Johnathan! There you are!" He had to fight for his breath when his aunt ran into the room and enveloped him in the biggest hug. "I was so worried, I'm so glad you're okay!"

He wrapped his arms around her middle, "It's okay. I'm okay."