Ash stepped into his room, closing the door behind him. He stood there for a moment, his eyes scanning the space that felt both familiar and distant. Everything looked the same, yet nothing felt right.

His shirt stuck to him, dirt and dried blood making his skin itch. He sighed heavily, grabbing some clothes from the drawer before heading to the bathroom.

The warm water was comforting, at the very least. Ash felt light only by showering, but he sighed when he noticed the bruises, purple and black, on his arms and face, the scratches stinging.

When he finally stepped out, the exhaustion hit him all over again. His muscles ached, his head throbbed, and all he wanted was to collapse onto the bed and let sleep take him.

Dressed in fresh clothes, Ash dragged himself back to his room and sank onto the mattress. His body felt heavy, his mind sluggish as he stared up at the ceiling.

And then his phone buzzed on the bedside table.

He groaned, reaching for it without even checking the screen. “Yeah?”

“Ash,” his father’s voice was steady. “You’re home right? Is everything okay at home?”

‘Dad…? Where is he?’

“Yeah,” Ash said, his voice rough. He cleared his throat and tried again. “Mom and Noah are asleep. Everything’s fine.”

There was a pause on the other end, and Ash could hear faint background noise- maybe a coffee machine.

“Good,” his father finally said. “That’s good.”

“Where are you?” Ash asked, rubbing a hand over his face.

“With Lily,” Luke replied softly. “She’s asleep now. Resting like a log.”

‘Huh? I seriously doubt that Lily let him in.’

Ash murmured. “Is she okay?”

“She will be,” his father said, chuckling a bit. “She’s shaken up. I’ll stay here tonight and bring her home in the morning,” there was a pause in his voice, then he added, “If she wants to, of course. Even so, if she doesn’t, I’ll be home tomorrow morning.”

‘I don’t think she’ll come home. But I would…like it…if she does.’

Ash nodded even though his father couldn’t see him. “Okay.”

There were brief moments of silence, and good grief, it was really uncomfortable.

“And you?” his father asked finally. “How are you, Ash?”

Ash froze for a moment, his fingers curling slightly against the blanket. “I’m fine,” he said, too quickly.

His father’s tone shifted, firmer now. “Asher.”

The way he said his name made Ash’s stomach churn.

“I’m fine,” Ash repeated, softer this time. “It’s nothing important, Dad. Don’t worry about it.”

“You expect me to buy that?” his father asked, and Ash could make out the expressions he would have. “You came home bloodied and bruised, Ash. That’s not nothing. What happened?”

Ash pressed his lips together, his jaw tightening as his eyes flicked to the ceiling.

‘How am I supposed to explain this?’

How could he explain it? That he was doing something no sane person would ever think of- messing with bullies, toying with them like he wasn’t terrified they’d figure him out?

He could almost laugh at himself.

“It’s okay now,” he muttered, the words coming out before he could stop them.

“Handled, is this what you think it is?” his father said, clearly unimpressed. Then, his voice dropped, and Ash’s breath hitched at his voice.

“Ash, when I get home tomorrow, you’re going to tell me everything. Do you hear me?”

Ash let out a slow breath, his shoulders slumping. “Yeah, okay,” he said quietly.

He clearly couldn’t disagree with his dad, he couldn’t afford to.

“I mean it, Ash,” his father continued, his tone softening. “Whatever it is, you are going to give me all the details. It isn’t okay for you to come home like that.” He paused, and then out of nowhere, he asked, “You aren’t bullying someone, right?”

Ash choked on thin air.

‘Huh? Does dad really think that I’m…I’m bullying someone?’

“No,” Ash said finally, holding his laughter in.

“Good,” his father said, and Ash could hear the faint relief in his voice. “You’re going to tell me tomorrow, got that? I’ll believe you…even if you’re coming home looking like a zombie.”

His dad wasn’t the type to dismiss him, but this wasn’t something simple. This was complicated, messy. How was he supposed to explain that he’d thrown himself into something this reckless, this dangerous, willingly? But still, Ash thought of telling him when he does come tomorrow.

“I will,” Ash promised, his voice steady.

“Now get some rest, okay? Take care of Noah and your mom. I’ll be getting some rest now too.”

“Okay. Goodnight, Dad.”

“Night.”

As the call ended, Ash let the phone drop onto the bed beside him. He let him eyes close, the exhaustion finally taking a toll on him. His last thoughts were assurance to himself, that he’ll tell his dad everything.

He had to.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

He was five.

She was fifteen.

But when she was with him,

She felt like a child too.

In the mornings, they had their little game-

Who would wake up first?

He always won, And she let him.

Daytime was chaotic.

Her room was a pirate ship.

The Kitchen was a castle.

At noon, they had a snack party-

He always said she was terrible, but ate.

He wasn’t better either, but she didn’t complain.

At night, he would crawl into her lap,

Telling her stories that made no sense,

But she listened anyway,

Because his laughter made her feel at home.

Years passed like a blur.

He was fifteen now.

She was twenty-five.

And somewhere in the growing up,

She had let go of those little moments.

She didn’t see him as much anymore.

“Ash!” she called.

He didn’t look back.

“Ash!” she tried again, louder.

This time, he turned-

And her world stopped.

There was a knife, deep in his stomach,

Scarlet, Crimson, Red.

His hands trembled, trying to stop the bleeding.

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

“No,” she whispered, trying to step forward,

But her legs didn’t move.

She looked to the right- And there he was.

A boy with blond hair, his face twisted into a cruel grin.

He was laughing, and with a sickening pull,

He tore the knife from Ash’s body.

Blood sprayed, dark, and Ash staggered, his knees buckling.

Before she could scream, before she could move,

The boy raised the knife again.

He brought it down on Ash, and he let out a choked scream.

Once.

Twice.

Three times-

Lily jolted, and woke up. Her heart is racing, and her breaths are coming in short gasps.

The dream still clung to her. She could still see him- Ash. Wide-eyed and falling, blood pooling around his fingers as he clutched his stomach. A knife buried deep where it shouldn’t be.

Her breaths were shallow, erratic, her trembling hand pressing against her chest as if that could steady her racing heart.

It wasn’t real. She repeated it over and over.

It wasn’t real.

It wasn’t real.

But why did it feel like it was?

She sat up, her eyes darting around the room. She was in her apartment, and dim light entered through the windows.

And then, a sound.

Someone humming. Light and cheerful.

Lily frowned. She remembered how last night went. A slap, her mother muttering comforting words, and Noah just sitting- crying and sobbing his little heart out.

She ran afterwards, all that happened, being too overwhelming. In hopes of getting herself out of the place, which she once called ‘home sweet home’, she ran. But her dad followed. All the way to her apartment.

Maybe he wanted to fix things, but Lily didn’t care. She came into her apartment, but didn’t lock it. Maybe she forgot, maybe she wanted him to come.

And then, he came.

He didn’t speak, didn’t demand anything from her. He simply came in and sat down beside her, close enough that she could feel the heat of his body, but not close enough to overwhelm her.

He was there, but he didn’t intrude. And for some reason, that was exactly what she needed. She didn’t look at him, didn’t say a word, and neither did he.

She didn’t even realize when her exhaustion finally won, and pulled her into a restless sleep.

But she slept, wondering if she would still feel his warmth in the morning, or if he would be leaving soon.

Throwing back the covers, she pushed herself up, her limbs still heavy with sleep. Her feet hit the wooden floor and paused for a moment in the hallway.

Her father’s voice, annoyingly cheerful, broke the morning stillness. “Oh, good, you’re awake!” he called out, grinning as he peeked his head out from the kitchen.

“Perfect timing. I made breakfast!”

Lily froze, her fingers tightening at her sides. “...Dad.”

“Do you wanna take a shower before you eat?” he asked brightly, disappearing back into the kitchen.

Lily clenched her jaw. What is he doing here now? But even as the thought crossed her mind, she knew the answer. He’d stayed. Of course, he had.

She wanted to ask him to leave, take his annoying humming and breakfast, and leave her alone. But she didn’t. She slowly came forward, and looked at her dad, setting down two plates on the table.

“Ta-da!” he said, stepping back proudly.

Her eyes fell on the food. Eggs and bacon, arranged in an overly cheery attempt at a smiley face. The eggs had the yolks positioned as eyes, with strips of bacon forming a wide grin.

She almost scoffed. Of course.

Her stomach growled softly, betraying her. She didn’t want to admit it, but she was really hungry, given that she didn’t eat last night. She sat down, ignoring her father’s pleased expression, and picked up the fork.

The eggs were fine. The bacon was crispy. She hated that it tasted good.

“I used to do this for you and Ash all the time,” her father said, sitting down across from her. “You loved when I made a smiley face on the eggs.”

Lily didn’t answer. She stabbed a piece of egg, chewing slowly.

“Noah, however, loves when I make fried rice,” he continued, as though she’d encouraged the conversation. “Every time I cook it, he eats like he’s never been fed before. Your mom always tells me I spoil him.” He chuckled.

Lily resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She kept her gaze on her plate, her grip tightening on the fork.

“Once, I made fried rice for Ash and Noah. Ash didn’t even know how to cut onions. Can you believe it?” He said, side-glancing Lily, who snapped her head towards him.

“...He didn’t?”

Luke’s eyes widened for a split second, and then he chuckled, “No. I asked him to do it, and he said he didn’t know how to do it. Well, don’t worry, I taught him.” He puffed out his chest.

Lily then didn’t reply, and she wasn’t sure why he asked him in the first place, if Ash didn’t know how to cut them. But that seemed so like him. He never liked onions, and when she had asked why, his reply was,

“I don’t like onions. They make me cry.”

Lily poked at the eggs, scoffing. Of course, he grew up.

“You don’t have to eat if you don’t want to,” her father added, his tone a little softer. “But... I thought you’d like it.”

She looked up at him then, meeting his eyes for the first time that morning.

“I’m starving,” she said flatly, turning back to her food.

He smiled faintly. “Good. Eat up, princess.”

‘Princess, my foot. Look at me, eyes all puffy and red.’

She never really wanted to think about it, but memories came.

Like the time when she was seven. It was one of those afternoons, warm and lazy, when the world felt so big and she was still small enough to believe everything would always be okay.

Her dad had called her “princess” back then, too. He’d sit on the grass in the backyard, laughing as she tried to outdo him in whatever silly game they were playing. He’d scoop her up in his arms, lifting her high into the air, calling her his “little princess” as if she could rule the whole world.

But that was before everything changed.

Lily pushed the empty plate aside. She tried to ignore the sound of her father washing the dishes, his familiar movements that felt too warm, too...normal. She just wanted everything to stop feeling so strange. When he finished, he settled next to her.

That’s when Lily stood up, and turned away from him.

“When are you going back?” She asked, her voice low, but not bitter in the least. “I’ve to go to work today.”

Luke shrugged, running a hand through his hair, “Um…I kind of told Ash that I would return in the morning last night,” He paused, then added, “With you.”

Lily stiffened, What? Why take me too?

“You will, right?” He pressed further, his voice low but firm.

Lily didn’t respond.

Luke then sighed, and slumped his shoulders, “Where do you work?”

“At a coffee shop. Not really far from here.”

She could feel her dad’s eyes burning holes from behind.

“Did you…uh…receive the money I sent?”

Lily bit her bottom lip. Ever since she left home, she didn’t really tell her dad, her family, or her friends where she lived. But it was about time, after three years of living alone, she started to get the money from who knows where. Just a brown envelope, filled with money, lots of them, in fact, with no information about the sender.

But it was clear as day that he sent her money. She never opened any of them, just received them, and thrashed them into the drawer.

She had no idea why she couldn’t bring herself to open them or use them.

“Yeah, I do.”

Her father stayed quiet for a moment, as if trying to process her response.

“I haven’t opened them,” she said quietly. “I’ve got...more than thirty of them sitting in my drawer.”

Luke sighed, then chuckled, almost to himself, “Well, if that’s the case, then we should go back as soon as possible, and go on a huge trip, maybe to another country!” He threw his arms wide, “We’ll so much enjoy that.”

Lily turned back, and bore her eyes into her dad’s. They looked so full of life, and colour. He looked too normal. She wasn’t expecting him to react like this.

“I’m not going back.”

Luke stopped, then nodded, “Uh-huh. Wanna tell me why? You clearly want to, I know it.”

Lily stayed quiet. She wasn’t sure what to say. Maybe she did want to go back, but not in the way he thought. Maybe she was tired of being alone, tired of the emptiness that came with living in her little apartment.

She thought about Ash and Noah. She thought about what it would be like to actually live with them again, to have a family, even if it wasn’t perfect.

No, it wasn’t perfect at all, but it would be something. Hell, if nothing, then at least, she wouldn’t be lonely again. She’ll challenge them to their little game of waking up early, and she would pretend her room is a pirate ship and the kitchen is a castle. She’ll still make terrible snacks for Ash and Noah, and if they don’t eat it, then rub it in their faces.

At night, she will coddle them both, or Noah at least, and make them laugh when making terrible attempts at singing a poem.

But she couldn’t say that out loud. She couldn’t admit that after all the running, after everything she’d done to escape.

Her father stared at her, like he was trying to read her.

She felt the words itching at her, but she kept them to herself.

Luke continued, “Lily. I don’t know if this is going to make you change your mind, but I want you to know. I don’t hate you, okay? I never did.”

Lily’s eyes widened. She remembers something an awful lot closer to these words.

.

.

Lily, dad doesn’t hate you. He just wants you to know that. He told me, he doesn’t hate you, you know?

.

.

Ash.

He had said that before, hadn’t he? Trying to let her know, but she never took them to heart. She kept making excuses of how he's just trying to control you, or brainwash you into believing whatever nonsense he’s bluffing at. But she always knew that she wanted to hear these words from his mouth.

Such damned words, but so assuring.

“You know, right? I’m sorry, so sorry, if I expected so much from you back then.” Luke’s voice dropped to a murmur, and his head lowered, “But now, I want nothing more than to have my family back together. You hear that, Lily? I want you to come back.”

Lily didn’t respond, just trying to take in her dad’s words felt like therapy.

Luke stood up, went up close to her, and looked into her eyes, so comforting, and unwavering.

“I want you to come back. Forgive me, and come back. I swear I’ll never even raise my voice on you, or Ash or Noah. Just come back home.”

Lily’s jaw hardened, her hands trembled, and her eyes looked anywhere but her dad’s silhouette.

She couldn’t meet his eyes. She knew what he wanted. She knew she wanted this all along.

Luke’s voice dropped, and he whispered under his breath.

“Please?”

That was it. The final push. Lily took a deep breath, bracing herself for what she was about to say. She turned her eyes away from him, murmuring, “At the end of this month.”

Luke jolted, and shifted, and then managed out.

“W-What?”

Lily looked into his eyes, and ran a hand through her hair, "At the end of this month, dammit. I'm not going to let the coffee shop pay me the amount for half the month."

Luke's eyes widened, he took a moment of understanding, and then when it hit him, he grinned.

“I’m so damn glad, Lily.”

So am I, she thought, but never said it out loud.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------