Before I officially continue with this story, I would like to say that I, in no way, condone any form of abuse. If anyone is abusing you or someone you know, please do not be afraid to speak about it to someone you trust or to call the police. If you want to speak to someone else, please call 1-800-799-SAFE(7233). That is the domestic abuse hotline and they are available 24/7 and will listen to you. Thank you and I hope you enjoy the story.

Jungkook didn't see home as most people do. Most people see home as the place where they can escape the judgmental and demeaning world around them. The place where they are the most themselves. However, Jungkook saw home as the place where dreams are left to die. It's a rest home for childhood dreams that are thrown away because those we looked up to deemed it unrealistic. It's the place where safety, dignity, and self-worth are all defined and characterized by just who you live with. Jungkook was raised in an environment where all of that was said and done and then torn apart and rebuilt in an entirely new structure. A weak representation of his head that could easily be torn down by the smallest of hammers. He'd been weakened and had no one to lift him up and build titanium supports but himself.

He only had himself and he realized that at such a young age. The age where you're supposed to still be that innocent child on the playground who knows only of the ice cream trucks soft tune and which stuffed animal you'll cuddle tonight. He'd had that mindset even after he spread his very damaged wings and flew too far from the nest. He'd flown so far that he couldn't see it's dull color from over his shoulder. So far that the sun was just a finger's length away. Only to be pulled right back when his wings gave out and had to return under the nest's restrictions.

It wasn't until he was fully grown and could look his father in the eye that he finally took flight and never looked back, never went back. He flew miles and miles away, hoping that if he ever did take a glance back, the nest would be only a tiny speck on the horizon, maybe even less than that. He entered the city and found himself feeling alive for the first time since, well, since another's wings guided his own. The city was abuzz with other lost souls who had come for the same comfort, the comfort that things would be different. That change was possible. That pasts wouldn't catch up with you, no matter how hard they tried. He found himself a small apartment, far different from the nest he'd had to leave behind. The whole space was about the size of his old room, but he didn't mind. He had the feeling that he wouldn't be seeing much of it anyways.

He had left the house feeling excited. Excited to see the city he'd been held back from for so long. To experience things without the firm, strong hand of his parents. He wandered for hours until the sun had sunk way beneath the horizon and the city was now only illuminated by the still lively residents. Jungkook stumbled his way back up those dirtied steps to his apartment, passing by many unhopeful figures on his way. He stood there for what felt like years outside his apartment's rust stained door with the key in his hand. He didn't know why he couldn't do it. His stomach was bursting with anxiety, his eyes staring at the door as if it was the entrance to a murder house. He shook his head, trying to regain himself. He unlocked the apartment and went in.

The empty three room apartment felt much smaller as he took his first few steps. As if its walls were simply going to close in on him and swallow him whole. The walls bore eyes and looked at him as if he were disgusting and stared at him judgmentally, giving him questioning glances as if asking him why he was still here, why he was still breathing. Arms molded themselves up and out of the ceiling and floors and objectively groped and swung their balled up fists at the empty air around them. Jungkook lost count of how many breaths he had taken in that one minute as he watched the walls take their first few glances around the room and the hands start moving. It became uncontrollable, unconsolable. His heartbeat sped up, being the only thing he could hear. The constant beating of his horrified heart who was going way too fast to be understood. Tears welled in Jungkook's eyes as he sprinted through the maze of arms to his room.

He threw himself onto his bed and dove under the covers and hid his head, begging under his breath for the eyes and arms to go away, to leave him alone. He begged for them to be gone when he woke up. His tears slowly slid down his cheeks as his panic hit it's peak. He'd finally escaped the grasp and watch of his parents, to finally be able to fly free, only to be put into another, to be caged yet again. Jungkook brought his forehead to touch his knees, his figure now in the fetal position. It was the first time since the wings that had guided his own had flown themselves too high that he had cried for his Mother. His Mother who, at the time, would make the monsters leave and go home. However, that would mean she'd have to go too.

Jungkook tugged at his hair, his breathing and heart rate finally starting to go back to normal. They'll be gone tomorrow. They'll be gone and he won't have to worry. They'll be gone and he can live his new life as he wants to. No eyes, no arms. Nothing holding him back. His eyes gently closed and his mind drifted off and away. Away from his apartment of eyes and arms. Away from his nest of troubles. Away to a place where birds flew freely with unbroken wings across the sunset lit skies.

Word Count: 972

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I apologize for the somewhat abrupt ending. I wasn't sure on how to end it. Welcome to WY,IFN! I'm so happy to finally be publishing this. I'll be on a once a week schedule until I finish (cough) won't be for a while (cough). Anyways, thank you for reading this chapter and I'll see you next week!