30 Seconds To Choose

1

*TW Self harm, PTSD, depressed lil pip*

*phillip's POV*

I locked my bedroom door and pulled the cardboard box from under my bed. I opened the lid and sorted through the illegal contents. I decided on the knife. I took the blade and pressed it across my arm, dragging it along. I cut a few more times, adding to the many old and new cuts up and down my arms, before bandaging it up, closing the box and walking downstairs. My mom was talking to her friend Theodosia, my...friend's...mom.

I texted Theo.

Pippy Boi:

Hey can I come over?

Theo <3:

Sure (:

Pippy Boi:

Thanks

Ten minutes later I was knocking on her door. On the walk over I had spotted a sign with the empire state building and I started crying. Theo opened the door and pulled me into a hug with no questions asked. She led me to her bedroom and sat me down on her bed, which had fluffy black and white blankets and pillows. I curled up on them and cried.

Theo lay down next to me and rubbed my back. I wiped away tears. She smiled at me.

"Shhh Pip it will be okay shhh" She whispered. She squeezed my hand. "Why don't we watch a movie to get your mind off whatever it is that's bothering you." I nodded and she turned on the TV. She pulled up The Jungle Book' I smiled at her. She knew that was one of my favorites, the other being Brave. Yes those are my favorite movies at 19 years old. 

As we watched the movie Theo leaned on me and my arms found their way around her waist. I leaned back against a fluffy black pillow and fell asleep. Bad news bears when I fall asleep.

I was walking with Theo and a tall babysitter named George Eacker. We walked past the empire state building and Theo heard a plane so we looked up to see if we could spot it.

We could.

The plane crashed into the Empire State Building many floors ahead. The bottom floor burst into flames like it had been doused in gasoline and someone lit a match. I screamed and cried. Theo grabbed my shaking hand and dragged me away. WE ran and ran.

The reporter said everything.

"Of the 15,000 people who worked in the empire state building 3,000 made it out before the building collapsed, killing the 12 thousand inside, and about 500 people from the nearby buildings. The plane held 700 people. All died. The death count is approximate 13,300 people, many more than nine-eleven"

I sat down hard and trembled. I may have only been nine but I knew that that was a lot of deaths. And this wasn't normal. The news report continued saying things, I think I heard something about my father being a terrorist, but I couldn't listen. Theo tried to calm me. I sobbed and sobbed.

The scene changed.

I was coming home from piano lessons. Mom opened the door and I walked in. I froze. My siblings lay dead on the floor. They are gone.

The scene changed.

I was watching the news on October 21, 17. I was eleven. It had been 2 years since my father disappeared and nobody told me what happened. Theo's dad also disappeared. She said she knew what happened. But nobody was telling me anything. Everyone told me that I didn't even get kidnapped, it was just a dream. But it felt so real.

"Today we remember all the lives lost in the terrorist attack that cost thousands of people their lives, and thousands of families their loved ones. Today's feature shows the crimes Alexander Hamilton committed in the seven days before the attack.

"He cheated on his wife and was blackmailed to give money, kill George Washington, and destroy a document. He failed one task, and KGC killed all but his eldest child and wife.

"One man figured it out. Aaron Burr. This man is a hero, even if his heroic attempt didn't succeed. He gave his life to try and save all the people."

I just sat there, comprehending the information. Oh.

The scene changes.

It's the plane crash. It plays over and over again. I hear Theo screaming and screaming. Except it isn't part of my dream. I woke up. Both me and Theo had thrashed around in our sleep and were tangled up together in a blanket.

"M-mom where is daddy? Where is he? He has to be here!" she screamed. "NO! He can't be gone! He was here this morning! He promised he would take me to the park! Why did he lie! Where is he!?!?!"

"Theo, Theo it's okay. It's me, Phillip." I whisper. She slowly calms down and wakes up. I hug her and we cry together. She pulls away, I brush my hair out of my face. She gasps and grabs my arm, pulling up my hoodie sleeve to reveal my bandages. She looked at me.

"Oh Pip I thought you were over this."