By the time 7 pm rolls around, my vision's blurry and there are little lights flashing in the corners of my eyes. I told Lawson about it earlier but he said I'm hallucinating. I don't hallucinate, he's been talking too much to Yuri, he really believes something is wrong with me.

I get up to look at the little light that keeps flashing from the closet, only for it to disappear. However, I know if I lay back down, it'll just keep flashing. So I walk out to the living room.

Lawson and I have spent a lot of today apart and sleeping. It hasn't been the best day. However, I need to spend it with him before I leave again.

I drag my feet to the living room, only my love for him keeps me moving. I exit the hallway to see him shirtless on the couch, his scars on his chest screaming to me. I've always been curious, ever since I saw his scars the first time, but I never dared ask.

I stood over him, running my hand along his scars, tracing them and thinking about home, running away, and how much I love him.

When he twitches I pull away, but he's already awake. His eyes are open and he jolts up, covering his scars.

We stare at each other until he cautiously uncovers his chest, then asks, "Are you curious?"

I nod and sit next to him as he sits up.

"My parents. They hurt me a lot as a child. They whipped me across my chest, no one would see them there." His eyes flew to the floor. "Last year they realized they could finally kick me out on my own, so they emancipated me, but I don't mind, I'd really rather it be this way."

My eyes widened and I could hear the sobs come into his throat.

"You're the only person I've ever wanted around, Hayami. I've always thought living was pointless, but seeing you here with me now changes my mind, without a doubt. I love you Hayami. You make my life better."

I nodded and looked at the ground, ashamed.

"I love you too." It slipped out of my mouth more as a mumble, but he didn't seem to notice as he stood up, kissed my head, and walked into our room.

I feel so ashamed. I'm the only person he's ever wanted around, and I'm leaving? I feel horrible. I'll leave him a note, it's the least I can do. If anyone deserves to know anything about my plan, it's him.

Dear Lawson,

This is going to be hard for both of us, but I'm running away again. I love you, but I can't let you poison me like my mother or the doctors. I need to live and I hope that you will be happy knowing that I'm out in the world, living my best life. I'm going to miss you, please don't forget about me, you're the love of my life. I'm sorry.

-Hayami, your love.

I shoved it in my pocket and walked into our room. It's about time for bed but I can't just sleep without talking to Lawson. I roll over towards him.

"Babe?"

All I got in response was a quiet snore.

"Baby."

I shook him lightly, and he slowly came to.

"Hmmm?"

"Hey, baby? I just want you to know I love you, okay?"

"Is that why you woke me?"

Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

He leaned over and planted a kiss on my lips.

"M-mhm...I love you, Lawson. Goodnight"

I couldn't bare myself to say anything more.

"Goodnight my love," he replied contently.

I felt tears flow out of my eyes onto my clothes and the bedding. I faced my back towards him. I silently cried for hours until my eyes were dried, then turned towards him to hold him. I needed to feel him in my arms one last time.

Then it was day. My face felt bumpy and dry from sobbing overnight. I frantically sat up, reaching for Lawson to hold him again only to realize he was gone. He had already left for work. The sunlight streamed through the windows, reminding me once more of home.

I am already starting to accept that I won't have a home, a lover, or friends ever again. I will have to be in hiding forever because everyone will constantly try to poison me. Everyone thinks there is something wrong with me.

However, even as sad as I am, I need to get ready to leave now. I have to be long gone by the time he gets back.

First things first, I take the note out of my pocket that I wrote yesterday and put it on the kitchen table. It's only once I start gathering my belongings in our bedroom that I begin to hear things.

"Ħⱥɏⱥᵯī."

It sounds like him. I know it's the bony boy, but I can't see him anywhere.

"Ⱳīłłꝋⱳ."

I roll my eyes.

"If you're here, stop being so dramatic and just come out!"

I didn't mean to come off harsh, but today was just not the day for me. Everything is silent now. I turn around to face the door, and there he is.

"ᛗɏ ꞥⱥᵯē īꞩ Ⱳīłłꝋⱳ."

"Great," I threw my clothes down, "That's one question answered. Now how did you get in, and why are you here?"

"Ī'ᵯ ɏꝋᵾɍ ꞩⱥꝟīꝋɍ."

My face wrinkled up in confusion as I crossed my arms.

"Ī'łł ꞩⱥꝟē ɏꝋᵾ ӻɍꝋᵯ ⱦħīꞩ ⱳɍēȼҟ. Ɏꝋᵾ đēꞩēɍꝟē ƀēⱦⱦēɍ."

My arms fell to my sides as my heart softened. What did this boy know about me? He knows something more.

"Ⱳħēꞥ Łᵾȼīӻēɍ ⱳⱥꞩ ⱦħɍꝋⱳꞥ ӻɍꝋᵯ ⱦħē ҟīꞥꞡđꝋᵯ ꝋӻ ₲ꝋđ, ħē ⱥđⱥꝑⱦēđ. Ħē ƀᵾīłⱦ ħīꞩ ҟīꞥꞡđꝋᵯ. Ɏꝋᵾ ȼⱥꞥ đꝋ ⱦħē ꞩⱥᵯē. Ɏꝋᵾ ⱥɍē ⱦꝋꝋ ꞡꝋꝋđ ӻꝋɍ ⱦħīꞩ ⱳꝋɍłđ."

My jaw falls to the floor and my heart jumps into my throat. I remain speechless as he moves towards me. His legs drag towards me and it's only now that I notice his eyes have tears.

"Łēⱦ ᵯē ħēłꝑ ɏꝋᵾ."

His hand reaches for me. Something feels wrong. I tuck my hands behind me. I back up and sit on the bed. The comforter squishes against my thighs as I continue to back up.

He slowly walks across the room, almost lifeless, until he stands in front of me, inches away.

His hand leads a trail to my throat, and follows up to my chin, forcing me to look at him.

I feel tears rushing into my eyes. Lawson did this to me once.

"Đꝋꞥ'ⱦ ȼɍɏ, ⱥꞥꞡēł. Ī ⱥᵯ ħēɍē. Ī ⱳīłł ꝑᵾłł ɏꝋᵾ ꝋᵾⱦ ꝋӻ ēꝟēɍɏꝋꞥēꞩ ɍēⱥȼħ, ꞥꝋ ꝋꞥē ⱳīłł ӻīꞥđ ɏꝋᵾ ⱳīⱦħ ᵯē."

His hand on my chin softened as he stood in front of the bed, right in front of me.

My sobs cause my head to rest on his chin and cry harder. His hand was cold, almost so cold, that it felt nonexistent. By the time I looked up from my tears, he was gone.

I gathered my belongings on the kitchen table and shoved them into my backpack. Deja Vu hit me like a truck when I stepped toward the door. I decided to spin around and gander at the apartment one last time. I walked the house's perimeter, taking everything in through all my senses.

The floor creaks as I walk. However now, I'm hearing extra creaks behind me.

"Willow?"

I whip around to an empty hallway. The air shuffles up my skin, sending goosebumps over me. The air has gotten cold. A sudden force of anxiety overtook my body in one big wave. My legs began to shake while I curled into a ball on the floor. I am lost without Willow. I need him. He is all I have. No matter who he is. Repeating that over and over in my head makes me feel a bit better.

I run my hands across the opposite wall one last time, leading back to the door. I gripped the doorknob right before an idea struck me. I could take some stuff from Lawson. He wouldn't notice, right? No, that's too mean. He has loved me and taken care of me, I wasn't taking anything from him.

"Ɏꝋᵾ'łł ꞥēēđ īⱦ."

I turned from the door to face a hollow-eyed Willow, his eyes felt like daggers in my skin.

"Ɏꝋᵾ ⱥɍēꞥ'ⱦ ⱥ ƀⱥđ ꝑēɍꞩꝋꞥ ӻꝋɍ ⱦⱥҟīꞥꞡ ⱦħīꞥꞡꞩ, Ɏꝋᵾ ⱳīłł ƀē łꝋꞩⱦ ⱳīⱦħꝋᵾⱦ ⱦħēᵯ."

I knew he was right. However, I couldn't find anything to take except one crystal of his. I slipped it into my pocket and went for the doorknob once more.

I inhale and feel the cold air rush into my lungs as I swing the door wide open. I have 0 plans this time, and that makes everything a ton harder.

I walk down his driveway, not exactly thinking about where to go. I can't walk to Pizza Hut or the school. I'd like to walk downtown, but I know people would see me. I need to go to Walmart. It'll be the safest thing for me to do.

I make a mental list of things I need to buy while I'm there. I've saved up all my money from work, so I have quite a bit.

1. Hair Dye

2. Fake Glasses

3. Food

Come to think of it, that's really all I need. As I'm slowly walking with my hood up to Walmart, I make the first big step of my new plan to hide forever.

Change my Identity.

"Ī ⱳīłł ħēłꝑ."

I felt Willows' cold hand suddenly form into mine.

Whatever I'm going to go through. He's here.

"Ʉꞩ ⱥꞡⱥīꞥꞩⱦ ⱦħē ⱳꝋɍłđ."