Flashlight (Sam Woolf)

Prologue

Smash!

As it came into contact with the wall, the glass beer bottle shattered into several pieces. At the same time, thunder rumbled in the distance. Shards of brown glass littered the floor, but neither of my parents seemed to care much. They just continued to shout drunk slurs at each other aggressively. 

Cowering in the corner, I stared intently at the glass shards on the hardwood floor. Tears brimmed my cloudy blue eyes at the sight. Although this is normal in my household, this behavior still sends shock through my veins. Thunder rumbled outside, shaking the wooden house ever-so-slightly. The heavy rain and thunder added to the overly cliche setting that I call my life. 

"-you asshole! Why don't you just leave already?"

More smashing and shouting. I squeezed my eyes shut and bowed my head, silently praying for this all to be over. A loud clap of thunder brought me back to reality. This cannot be fixed. Things are going to be like this forever, and there isn't a single thing I can do about it. 

Why must this be my life? Does the universe hate me this much to put me in this terrible position? I'm only 14, for crying out loud! Kids my age are not supposed to live like this! They are supposed to be laughing happily with friends, or going on vacations with relatives. Not praying for their parents to just stop, or wanting their own lives to end just to get away. Unfortunately, I am living in this reality- this twisted reality.

"Avery? Are you in here?"

Relief surged through me at the sound of my best friend's voice. I let out a whimper, which seems to be the only form of words I can get out with tears backed up in my throat. Within seconds, he was crouched down beside me, holding a caring hand on my shoulder. Being in his presence calmed me down a little, but my body is still numb with the harsh reality.

"Let's get out of here, Av. We need to leave."

"Sam..." I whimpered, choking back a sob.

He wrapped his arms around me wordlessly, holding my body close as I sobbed loudly into his shoulder. Sam sang a soft melody in my ear, continuously running his hand gently through my ratty hair. The simple action felt nice, and I slowly felt my body relaxing. 

"Shh, it's okay. I'm here, it's okay." he said softly in my ear. "Just relax. I've got you." 

Bang, smash. The sound of footsteps began to echo off the blank walls, getting progressively louder. My heartbeat picked up, and I felt my breathing quicken. No, they can't be coming down here. I glanced between Sam and the stairs, desperately wanting to run far away from this. 

Figuring I was too weak to stand on my own, Sam carried me in his arms out of the house. I felt weak and pathetic, but my whole body feels like jelly. This happens far too often, and I feel guilty about it. Sam shouldn't have to come for me every time my parents get bad. He has enough on his plate to be dealing with the dysfunctional Avery Wilkins. 

Once we were far from my house, Sam set me down on my feet. "You okay?" 

I ran a hand through my soaking wet hair. "I will be... eventually." 

He slipped his arm around my shoulders. "Just know that I'm here for you, okay?" 

I nodded, finally feeling somewhat safe. When Sam is around, everything seems to be normal. The spiralling disaster that is my life at home and school issues seem to disappear as soon as Sam steps in the room. And I'm so god damn thankful for that. If Sam ever left my life, I don't know what I would do. Everything would just collapse beneath me. 

The rain continued to soak through our clothes, with the booming thunder rumbling in the distance. My teeth are chattering as fast as my heart is beating, and every single part of my body is trembling. But the numbness coming from the freezing cold rain felt somewhat relieving. It numbs the pain I feel internally.

"You can stay at my house tonight." Sam said, stepping onto his front porch. "My parents will understand." 

Sam's parents are well aware of what goes on in my house. They always check up on me, and try their best to make sure everything is okay. In a way, they act as the parents I never got to have- the sweet, fun set of parents, rather than the aggressive, angry ones that I have lived and dealt with. 

Pushing the door open, Sam let me out of the rain and into his warm house. The setting in the Woolf house is far different than mine. His mom is always set up on the couch watching a Lifetime movie, while his dad is either cooking a meal or working on his computer. It's a typical family setting- the one thing I never get to see. 

If only my house were this calm. 

Normally, his mom acknowledges me as soon as I walk in the door. Today, however, is different. "Sam, I need to talk to you in private."

Sam hesitated, looking between myself and his mom. I motioned for him to go, sensing that this is pretty urgent. Instead of the caring, gentle tone in her voice, Sam's mom sounded awfully angry and impatient. This can't be good.

Once Sam was gone, I let my eyes wander around the room. Endless family pictures were scattered in various places throughout the living room, giving off a warm, soothing effect. Most of the photos were of Sam and his sister, but some were of people that I didn't recognize. Maybe distant relatives. Seeing the photos made me yearn for something special. Everyone has something- except for me. 

About five minutes of standing there in awkward silence, Sam came back into the living room. All of the color is drained from his face, and he just looks... dumbfounded. He isn't even looking up at me. Sam's eyes are just trained on the floor, like he is too scared to look up. What in the world did his mom tell him?

"Sam?" I asked, walking over to him. "What's wrong?" 

A few seconds of silence ticked by before he spoke. "I-I..." 

I put a hand on his shoulder, trying to look him in the eye. "Are you okay? Look at me." 

Sam looked up at me, and that allowed me to see the tears running down his cheeks. "I have to move, Av."

I swear, my whole world came crashing down within that one sentence. Tears of my own welled up in my eyes, and I couldn't find the right words to say. He is my only friend here in Michigan. I can't do this without him, I just can't. Sam is my only light, the one and sole reason that I am still here. They can't take away the only thing that I have left. 

"W-what...? When?" I asked, fighting back a wave of tears. 

"Next month. I'm moving down to Florida with my grandparents." he said, biting hard on his bottom lip. 

I stared at him, absolutely confused. "Why? What about your parents?" 

His mom strolled into the room just as Sam was about to reveal it to me. She gave him a hard look, very strictly telling him not to bring it up. Sam sighed, taking my hand and bringing me upstairs to his room. We passed his dad in the kitchen, but not even a glance was exchanged. Something is definitely wrong here. 

Tension lingered in the air around us, and it became very obvious. Why Sam has to move so suddenly is a complete mystery to me. And why just him? Is his sister involved in this too? I know it's not my business to ask, but curiosity is going to get the best of me. 

"I'm so sorry." Sam said, almost in a whisper. 

"Sorry about what? You have nothing to apologize for." I said with a small chuckle. 

A grin spread across his face. "I'm leaving you here with all of these dumb idiots. How are you going to survive?"

I laughed, leaning my head on his shoulder. "I'll find a way, Sammy Joe." 

There's the prologue! It isn't very good, to be completely honest with you. It took me about five tries to get it in this current state, and I'm still not satisfied with it. Oh well. Comment your thoughts below, and hit that smexy vote button, if you don't mind :)