Forgiven

Cody is running through the forest, the same dream over and over again, he stumbles on a twig. As he stands up he sees a figure in front of him, his vision clears and he sees Shane. Shane grabs Cody's arm and yanks him up. Then he attacks Cody.

Cody is unprepared for this attack. He throws his arms up to cover his face. Shane is merciless, he throws punch after punch, kick after kick. Cody tries to get up to run, and thats when he sees the fist fly right into his face. Cody wakes up sweating and panting. His eyes are big and his expression is wild. "Just another nightmare" says Cody.

He gets out of bed and gets dressed. He hears his Mom calling from downstairs. "Cody come down for breakfast!". He gets his stuff and heads down the stairs, whereupon he observes his step dad reading the newspaper. Cody thinks "What a cruel man". Cody's little sister Isabella sits at the table eating her pancakes. "Cody, why did you wake up so late? Nightmare?" Isabella teased. Cody gives a fake smile and continues to sit down. He notices the pancakes are already in his spot. "Are you just going to stare at it or are you going to eat it? There are people who are starving and would die for the meals you get" says Cody's step dad. "I know dad, I'm just thinking, and I don't have time to argue with you" says Cody. Cody's step dad aggressively turns to Cody and says "Don't you dare give an attitude to me!" Cody grabs his backpack and goes to the bus stop. Without saying a word.

Alyssa, Cody's best friend comes to his bus stop. He feels safe around her. They talk for a while. She asks about what happened that he is so angry, what is going on, and of he needs help. He answers everything, but she knows he is hiding something. "Cody you know you can tell me anything, whats wrong?" he does not answer. She persists and he finally says "I've been having nightmares and my dad is nasty and my sister is a little brat and my mom just does not care!" Cody than realizes he was pretty loud. He watches as Isabella starts walking towards them. "I heard you yelling, does the wittle baby have a pwoblem?" Isabella sneers. Cody then says in a stone voice with a serious gaze to Isabella "Isabella I have had enough of your shit and I am done tolerating it. You are not any better than me, you have no right to talk that way to me. Have some respect" He then spits on the ground. Isabella, in shock and disbelief, says "I didn't realize that you felt like that. I don't really mean any of the things I say" she hugs Cody and then starts crying and saying sorry. Cody says it's okay and he calms her down. He then realizes that Alyssa isn't there anymore.