We all have our ghosts.

Some haunt us in our dreams while others take on physical appearances such as people or places. In the case of Alfred Jones it's both. He had been through extensive therapy after having been diagnosed with PTSD by his therapist. While the therapy helped a lot Alfred was never able to fully shake what he had been through.

You may be wonder what I'm talking about, my dear readers. Well, you see, Alfred is from a very conservative town called Hetalia. Alfred is gay so he was an outcast in the small town. He faced bullying both at school and at home when he came out making his life a literal hell. His only friends had been outcasts like himself. Gal and her family were Jewish and she was a lesbian while Hercules was bisexual.

The three had stuck by each other's sides through thick and thin. It was probably by them alone that Alfred was able to put up with the bullying for so long. Alfred had put up with it for three long agonizing years until an incident with a couple football players caused Alfred to run away.

Alfred could still remember when the three of them said their goodbyes. Alfred had been in his room packing clothes in a backpack when his bedroom window was opened. Normally Alfred would be okay with someone entering through the window but this time he tensed up still scared from the traumatic thing he had just been through.

Hercules and Gal stepped through the large window looking at Alfred concerned. "Alfred?" Gal murmured reaching out to place her hand on Alfred's shoulder but immediately recoiled when Alfred flinched. "What's wrong?" Hercules asked looking lazy like usual though Alfred could see the worry in the Greek's eyes.

"I can't do it anymore. I'm leaving this town." Alfred said as he started packing his backpack hearing Gal gasp while Hercules' eyes widened like dinner plates. "Leaving? What do you mean leaving? Why are you leaving?" Gal frantically waved her arms around in a panic. Hercules nodded at her question. "Something happened. I just need to get away from here, okay?" Alfred said as he zipped up his backpack finally finished.

"What happened? Did those jocks try to do something to you again?" Hercules asked causing Alfred to instantly flinch before he squared his shoulders. "I can't talk about it right now. I just need you two to trust me." Alfred replied hoisting his backpack over his shoulder before giving his two best friends a bright smile.

Gal and Hercules looked reluctant to let him leave but in the end respected Alfred's wish to leave. They would if they could though it was impossible as they both had families that would worry about them. Alfred however, didn't have such a thing. "Just promise you'll stay in contact with us, okay? We need you in our lives." Gal said pulling Alfred into an embrace.

Alfred tensed up at first then realized it was just Gal, one of the only people he could trust. Hercules soon joined the hug and the three best friends parted ways with two saying goodbye to one. No one was there to see the tears in their eyes.

While Alfred regretted leaving his only friends to rot in the godforsaken hell of a town, he was happy to finally be free. The day he left he vowed never to come back.

At least until he would receive a call three years later that would cause him to break his own vow.
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Alfred had just gotten out of class and was walking with one of his good friends, Kiku Honda when he had gotten the call. "So about that new anime—" Alfred cut himself off when his phone started ringing. Alfred pulled the device out of his pocket smiling when he saw whose number it was.

Alfred hit the answer button holding the phone up to his ear before speaking. "Hercules! What's up, my dude?" Alfred greeted with a cheerful tone. "Hello, Alfred. How have things been with you lately?" The Greek asked in his usual monotone voice. "Things have been great actually! I got into Yale and made a bunch of new friends. Though I know for a fact that none of them could ever replace you or Gal." The American stated enthusiastically like always. "How have things been with you guys?"

"Not so great actually. I think you need to sit down for this." Hercules said his tone changing to one of grief. Alfred blinked before sitting on a nearby bench watching as Kiku sat beside him looking confused. "What's wrong? Did something happen?" Alfred asked before Hercules spoke up. "Something wrong with Gal. She went to the doctor and found out she has cancer." Alfred nearly fainted from that alone.

"Cancer? What kind of cancer?!" Alfred asked frantically. "I don't know. The doctors said it could be lung cancer but it hasn't been confirmed yet. She said they said that she may die." Hercules sounded so heartbroken that it made Alfred want to cry. Hercules didn't get upset over much but when he did he sounded like a hurt kitten.

"I know this is a lot to ask bug could you by any chance come back to Hetalia?" Alfred froze at the request. He had never thought of going back Hetalia since he had left. He was more focused on trying to make his life better after being in hell for more than three years. "Alfred? Alfred, are you still there?" Hercules voice dragged him out of his thoughts and he gripped his phone tightly.

"Yeah I'm here, Hercules. I'll be there as soon as I can just make sure Gal doesn't die before I get there." Alfred heard Hercules sigh in relief. "Thank you so much. Mizrahi is currently at the hospital on Roanoke street, remember the one behind our old high school?" "Yeah I do. I see you later." Alfred hung up the phone before turning to Kiku who was looking at him curiously.

"Arfred-san, what was that about?" The Japanese student asked. Alfred tensed. Kiku was one of the few people who knew about Hetalia and his past with the town so he had to tell him. "I have to go back, Keeks...." Alfred said looking tried all of the sudden. "Back to where?" Kiku asked the American. Alfred turned away from his friend's gaze before whispering,

"I have to go back to Hetalia."
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Hey guys! Any thoughts to share?