AS THE PLANE began to rise from the ground, I looked out the window; watching the country of England become smaller as we rose above.

Amelia sat on the left side of me, her ear buds plugged in. I bit my lip in nervousness.

I couldn't go back to sleep after I had that flashback of Christmas Eve. I was still shaken because it felt so bloody real.

I couldn't go back into my room with Amelia asking questions. I didn't know if I could have told her. I didn't want to dig into my past again. She would definitely leave me if I told her the things I've done. The only thing she knew was I had stabbed someone who tried to rape my brother.

I loved her, yes, but I don't think I'll ever be able to reveal all the things that have happened to me.
I sighed, staring out the window as I let my thoughts surface somewhere else. I closed my eyes, but before I fell into a sleepy haze, I felt Amelia's hand on top of mine; her fingertips touching my scarred knuckles.

~

". . . Where is it?" I hear my father slur. He has bursted into my mother's room, drunk as a sailor.

"Where's what, honey?" my mother asks weakly. Her voice is frail as well as her body. I lurk in the room; careful not to let my father or mother see me watch them.

"The fucking money you stupid whore!" he slaps her across the face; my mother falling halfway down to the floor. She picks up her head and lets out a shaky breath.

"I. . . I don't kn-know. . ." she coughs up a storm; spitting out phlegm.

My father groans, picking her up by her messy hair as he pins her to the closet door.

"WHERE IS IT?!" he bellows. "WHERE THE FUCK IS MY MONEY, YOU BITCH?!"

~

"Freddie!"

I jolt upward, breathing heavily. I turn to my left and see Amelia look at me with concern.

"Are you okay, babe? You're shaking."

I look down at my hands and notice my hands trembling. I swallowed whatever was in my throat and sigh. What the Hell is wrong with me?

"N-nothing," I say, rubbing my wrist with my thumb. "Just. . . Just go back to sleep, baby. I'll be fine."

Amelia rolls her eyes. "Alright."

Once I am certain she has fallen back to sleep, I begin to close my eyes and attempt to fall asleep.

~

"GET AWAY FROM HER!"

I take hold of my father's broad shoulders and push him down to the floor; punching him senseless. He doesn't take my hits lightly, what he does next will kill my mother's soul.

He hovers over me, crushing his fist on my face as he punches me with harsh blows.

"You little shit, who the HELL do you think you are?! You aren't the man of the house, I AM."

He punches me again; each blow is as numbing as the last. I clench my fist and strike at his stomach; causing him to go upward.

I pick myself up and make my way to my mother, who is panic-stricken from the scene. I rub her shoulder comfortingly, hugging her tightly.

"Let go of your mother," my father mumbles. "It's about time we had a talk."

I look at my mother one last time before making a run for it. My combat boots pad onto the hallway; my father's footsteps following afterwards.

"Freddie!"

I look back at Bertie, seeing his saddened face. He was scared. And as much as I hate to admit it, I was too.

"Don't worry, Bert," I say. "I'll come back for you."

I begin to jog into the night. My father following me. Before I could even make it to the streets, my father pulls me back and points his rifle at me.

"As of right now, you're dead to me."

~

"Freddie. . . Freddie. . ."

I furrow my eyebrows, clenching my fists as Amelia shakes me lightly.

"What's wrong?" I ask, still tense.

"We're about to land," she replied. "What's going on with you? You're tense."

"I said it's nothing!" I yell, causing a few people to look at us. I glare at them, then turn to Amelia with my jaw stiff.

"Don't fucking ask what's wrong with me, alright?" I say sternly.

"Why?" Amelia asks, nearly shouting. "Why can't I ask about your well-being, hm?"

"Because it's fucking annoying, Amelia," I reply. "You don't know half of the shit I go through or what I have gone through."

"I can try to understand, Freddie!" she says. "You gotta remember that I have gone through the same shit you have. So don't say I don't understand."

I shake my head in disbelief.

"You don't know anything," I stand up abruptly; grabbing her arm harshly as we push past the line.

"Come on, let's get the fuck out of here."

...