TORN (a Liam Payne Fan Fiction)

X. Flashbacks

~Liam's POV~

The dawn was barely even finished and I was already tired. My body dripped with sweat, my hair stuck to my forehead, and my breath knocked out of my lungs. I never gave up once; I just kept on running, leaping, and dribbling.

Yes, as you might've guessed, I was playing basketball at about three o'clock in the morning. Like you, I don't know why I am - I'm probably just tiring myself for no reason at all. There's just this something that made me go uneasy as soon as I went home from the hospital. And I figured that since I couldn't sleep, I just decided to go out and clear my head.

With one last shot, my right leg gave way and the ball bounced on the pavement to God-knows-where. There on the cold, basketball-court floor I lay, sobbing from the pain and confusion. Suddenly, random thoughts began to enter my mind, like how water infiltrates through the small pores of a sponge as soon as it gets submerged in water - so quick and unexpected.

I was crying nonstop, for the pain never stopped either. My mummy was on my bedside, crying like me, only quieter and my crying was much worse than hers. But if she wasn't better than me, she would've cried harder. She was, though. That's why she kept most of the waterworks in, her face getting redder each minute. Then the big, white door opened, revealing the huge man in a long white coat and round spectacles, followed by daddy. No, not him again, I thought as he approached, his masked face nearing mine. He seemed to be smiling down at me, but I never believed any of it - I know he's just here to hurt me again. It was my dad's turn to smile down at me this time, and he brushed my hair away from my sweaty forehead. The huge man took out the pointy thing and squeezed it, making a few drops of its contents spring free in the air. Oh no. The huge man stuck it in my arm like he would always do everyday, and like everytime he does, I cried in pain, struggling to get out of my daddy's and the man's grip. I looked to my side and saw my mummy crying harder than before. If this made her cry, why won't she do anything and just let this big meanie hurt me?

...

My mummy had packed me my favorite sandwich today. "For good luck," she had said. I knew I was going to do good in the A-level exams today, especially with the special kiss daddy gave me on my forehead today. He barely did that anymore, but I'm glad he did again. My sisters, Ruth and Nicola, had promised to give me a gift if I get high scores. Of course I did, and now I am happily eating my sandwich, overjoyed that my family is going to be proud when I tell them the news. "Well, well, if it isn't Payne," a rough voice made me jump from my chair and the hair on the back of my neck stand on its end. "You did very well in the exams today, didn't you?" I looked up, and sure enough, it was Tommy, the leader of my bullies. I nodded slowly. "You shouldn't have, Payne. That only made you more of a pain in my arse." His companions guffawed at what he said; it wasn't even funny. "We wouldn't let you off without punishment, would we?"

My eyes widened with fear. "No, Tommy, please! Please, don't -"

"Shut up!" he said, and grabbed me by the collar, slamming me against the grimy, tiled floor of the cafeteria. I yelped in pain, but I knew that wasn't the end of it. The bullies surrounded me and began with the punching and kicking 'til I was all black and blue.

...

My parents had insisted for me to train in boxing for self-defense after they heard of what happened to me after my A-Level exams. They were happy and angry at the same time when I went home that day.

Currently, I was practically being a human punching bag to my adult trainers. To be quite honest, I'm even worse now than when I'm being bullied at school. At least, when all of this is over, I'm assured that I won't get hurt anymore. I think.