It hurts... Because it matters...

House Fire

FLASHBACK...

"Don't leave me, dad..." I whisper, coughing from the smoke, "DON'T LEAVE ME!" I feel hands wrap around my waist but they weren't my dad's... I look up and see them all. They were waiting on me to cross the street. I get up and see the burns on their bodies but I didn't have any. How do they have burns? I thought that was a dream. Was it? I shake it off. I get up and run after my brother. That little butt-head left without me again. I love him so much. I body slam into him and he complains the entire walk to school. I kiss him on the forehead and walk into the high school. Grandver High, the worst place for me to go.... I wake up, the next day, in the hospital...

That was a year ago and it still haunts me. I am now in tenth grade and my brother died last month in a "car accident" or so everyone says. I know what really happened and it kills me every time I think about it. I die every day knowing I could've saved him. He was my best friend... Anyway, I think about that house and why I can't remember where that memory comes from. It tears me apart and rips me to pieces. I want to know where that house is... It seems so familiar, yet so far away. My memory is torn to shreds. I just want to have my brother back.

I walk into Chemistry and sit by Alex. She saved me a seat. I mouth 'thank you' and sat down before the teacher noticed I was late. I open my book and let a tear roll down my cheek. I wipe it away and try to catch up. "Miss Holace? What were we just explaining?" Busted. "I am so sorry Mr. Gibbs. I was busy dealing with my last class. I was late.." He butted in. "Next time you are late, detention. Understood?" He looked at me and I nod. "Good. We were discussing..." I ignore him and stare out of the window. Life was so much easier back then...

FLASHBACK

... earlier that day...

I wake up to the sound of my music. Damn it, I forgot to turn it off again. I get off my bed and plug my phone up. My brother rushes into my room and slams into me. "Your up, mom and dad are fighting again... I'm scared..." I pull him closer to me. "It's okay," I whisper in his ear, "Just don't think about it." He nods and we sit on my bed. We basically talk it out. All of a sudden, my mom bursts into my room with blood going down the side of her face. "I HATE HIM SO FUCKING MUCH!!! HE CAN ROT IN HELL!!!" I give her Tommy and run downstairs. "Dad! Come here NOW!" I yell, searching for him throughout the whole house. He jumps in front of me and starts to punch me. I push him off and run into the yard. "Get the hell outta my house, and never come back bitch!" I flip him off and start walking down the street. I stop as I hear my mom yelling and crying, begging for him to stop.

I run back and grab my brother. "Go hide," I whisper to him, "I'll come for you, I promise." He nods and runs in the distance. I turn around to see my parents fighting. My dad had gasoline in one hand while my mom had a lighter in her hand. They were about to catch the house on fire. "No." I whisper, running towards them. "STOP, STOP!" I yell, but it's no use. They both run into the house and I follow. I run to my room and pack a bag, then I throw it out the window. I put my phone in my back pocket. I run downstairs but it's too late. My dad poured the gasoline on my mom and she lit the lighter. She went up in the flames. The carpet caught fire and my dad tripped me. He tried to pour some gasoline on me but I rolled away from him. "Mom... NO MOMMMMM!!!!!"

My dad started to pour gasoline on himself, and he lit himself up. He said, "I am so sorry pumpkin... I didn't mean to ruin our family..." He fell on his knees and the house was on fire. I tried to get up but I couldn't feel my legs. "Don't leave me, dad..." I whisper, coughing from the smoke, "DON'T LEAVE ME!... I wake up, the next day, in the hospital...

I was told that my brother visited me in the hospital every day but I was never awake when he was there. I haven't seen him since though. I never thought that my family would tear itself apart, but it did. Alex looks me in the eyes and whispers, "I love you girl. If you need me, tell me and I'll be there." She kisses me on the cheek and I blush. I shake it off. She has a boyfriend, chill it Brittany...