“AAASSSHLLEYY DAVIESSS!” Ohhhh shit. Mr. Marson stormed across the lawn and caught up to me as I attempted to ditch before “clean-up duty”. I crossed my arms defiantly over my red Volcum t-shirt. “My office! Myyy office! You destroyed MY OFFICE!” Spit flew from his clenched teeth. “You are… you’re impossible. GET OFF MY CAMPUS! Trash! And you- you know what? What everyone says about you, students, parents, teachers, they’re right.” He leaned in close, still towering over me and sneered. “You’re a worthless slut.” And no one heard… no one cared. I slid my glasses on to hide emerging tears, drew my fist back and punched him in the throat. He sputtered, gasping for air as my black Converse carried me over the sidewalk. I didn’t stop for my car; Kyla (my sister) was going to borrow it for lunch. I just kept running. Pulling my sunglasses off, I rubbed the tears angrily from my eyes. My clumsy feet drove me into someone; I stumbled a bit, then feel. Picking myself up I kept moving.

“Ashley! Ashley!” Her voice cried after me, but I left Spencer behind. Finally I made it down the sidewalk and across the street. I turned the corner and then ran to an alley. My back hit the wall shakily and I slid against it. Wiping desperately at the tears, I finally gave up and just let myself cry.

I hid in my room that night. Locked the doors, left only a lamp on. Music flooded the room softly. I hugged my knees to my chest and closed my eyes wearily.

Yesterday I died, tomorrow’s bleeding
Fall into your sunlight
The future’s open wide beyond believing
To know why hope dies
Losing what was found, a world so hollow
Suspended in a compromise
The silence of this sound is soon to follow
Somehow sundown

And finding answers
Is forgetting all of the questions we call home
Passing the graves of the unknown

As reason clouds my eyes with splendor fading
Illusions of the sunlight
And the reflection of a lie will keep me waiting
A love gone for so long

This day’s ending
Is the proof of time killing all the faith I know
Knowing that faith is all I hold

And I’ve lost who I am
And I can’t understand
Why my heart is so broken

Flashbacks returned in my dreams.

Pleading, laughter, darkness.

No, no. I don’t want to see this. I don’t want to be there again…

Something shutting… water… I couldn’t… no they wouldn’t really leave… me…? Oh God, please help me! No, no, I… can’t…I can’t… I cant breath! Please, someone help, please!

My eyes shot open. I tried desperately to catch my breath. Goose bumps formed over my whole body. I was shaking horribly. My hand reached out blindly towards my alarm clock. 7:30. Suddenly the realization came to me… I didn’t want to be alone. I was still terrified. I couldn’t shake the feeling. Normally, normally it would go away by now… I didn’t want to be alone.

My hands shook as I clumsily dialed the numbers I had written down.

“Hello?” A voice said cheerfully on the other line. I bit my lip nervously.

“Uhm, hey, Spencer, it’s- it’s Ashley… Want… want to, uhm, hang out?” I almost begged.