*COMPLETED* - 2021
New Yorker, Dahlia Renee Parker had good friends. Good grades. Good parents. A good life. But all good things must come to an end.
**REWRITTEN** - 2023
I doubt child services will help. I don't think they like me very much.
"I don't know. Something. Anything to keep you safe."
"Uh, what about court?" Harry asks and I realize that it might work. I mean, court is court. Like law. So of the court doesn't let me go back no Niall, well, I don't stand a chance.
"Yeah, Harry, that could work." Niall says and I agree.
I smile. I could be living with Niall again. But of course, right when I begin to be happy, my phone rings. I pull it out of my pocket and check.
Mom
Well, the school play is obviously over. Niall takes my phone and answers himself. Luckily it's only on audio so they can't see him.
"Dahlia! How dare you leave our home! We trusted you to be responsible and stay here like we asked!" Their rant goes on and on and gets quite annoying.
You should have stayed. Blah blah blah. "We gave you a home. We do everything for you." Blah blah blah.
In the middle of them talking about how mad they are at me, Niall just hangs up.
Serves my parents right .
"Well I hate them already." Niall sighs and gives me back my phone.
From: Mom: That was rude, Dahlia. You don't just hang up on someone. Or ignore someone. Or fight back against someone. You of all people should know what happens when you fight back.
I do.
From: Mom: (image inserted)
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No. She can't just do that. She can't.
Niall looks at my phone and looks confused.
"Love? Who's that?"
"Someone." I mumble. Niall let's it go but I can tell that he want to know more.
***
I tried to stay strong when I got that message. And to be fair, I was okay for a little while. I shouldn't have taken that last glance at the picture. No. It was a very bad idea.
Breathe. That's all you have to do to stay alive right now.
No. Can't breathe.
"Muffin?"
Harry is beside me now. Niall is holding my hand, his lips are moving so I'm assuming he is saying something. But I can't hear what it is. Everything else is too loud.
"Dahlia? Love, can you hear me? Please answer me. Please, Love. Your scaring me right now." Niall's voice breaks through the noise in my head. The screams that are clouding my thoughts.
"Niall?"
He hugs me and his arms bring me closer to reality.
"Who is he, Love? Not your secret boyfriend or anything is he? Because he looks much too old for you and I don't want to end up having to chase him off with a baseball bat. Niall jokes at the last part.
"No, he isn't my boyfriend. Don't worry, you won't have to find the baseball bat. He's dead anyways so it doesn't matter anymore." I start to cry even though I really don't want to. I'm surprised I even have any tears left. I've already cried way too much today.
I'm not going to die of dehydration or something am I?
"Shh. Please don't cry, Love. You know I don't like to see you cry."
I sniffle and nod, trying to hold back the rest of the tears in my eyes. I fail and they all come streaming down at once.
I don't like it. I don't like feeling so weak like this.
"Ni?" I ask.
Niall rubs my back. "What is it, Love?"
"I miss him." I say. Niall looks sad. I made him sad. Now I'm sad that I made him sad.
"Can you tell me who he is?" Niall asks me. I shake my head.
