"It hurts, but it's okay...I'm used to it.

[16]

only one in hundreds can feel and own forever. Some don't even get to experience it. I was too young to love everyone close to me. My parents were amazing people. They were my rocks and I was their princess. We loved each other so much.

Now...I don't know what love is. It's hard to feel sometimes when I've grown with so much darkness surrounding my heart.

"You'll be okay, yeah?" Adam grabs a hold of my shoulders and shakes them gently. I softly smile in reassurance.

"Yeah, I'll live..." I whisper back.

Grey eyes. So much pain, yet, Adam still manages to forget about his own pain just to make sure I am happy.

Bad boy? I don't think so...

Devil? Probably.

Adam puffs his cheeks whiling blowing out a massive breath.

"Alrighty then...I best be on my way, I've got to look after Millie tonight." My eyes brighten up at the mention of Millie's name.

"How is she?" I ask.

I haven't heard of Millie for ages. Everyone's been so caught up in my business that I haven't been able to see how everyone else has been. Adam shrugs his shoulders carelessly and folds his arms across his chest.

"Meh, the little devil as always probably doesn't love me..." he grumbles. I roll my eyes and playfully punch his arm.

"Adam, she's your sister, of course she loves you!" I say through laughter.

I couldn't help the blush that appears on my face when I realise that Adam is staring at me. I tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear and grin up at him.

"Thanks for everything by the way," I say. Adam smiles and shakes his head.

"Anytime, friend."

With that, Adam opens his arms and pulls me in for a hug. We silently stand there for a few seconds before I speak up, "you know, you're allowed to show pain, right?"

Adam's body tenses up before he pulls away. "Yeah, I know."

I nod my head and shrug my shoulders. "Okay then..."

"I should - yeah, go now..." He awkwardly points to the door. I laugh at his awkwardness and shake my head in amusement.

"You do that."

I walk Adam to his car and watch him drive down the street before finally, he disappears. It is then when I feel the anxiousness of being alone. I take one big, shaky breath before walking back inside my home.

It doesn't feel like a home yet. It is kind of..plain.

I hadn't realised that my whole family used to live here together. Dad and Mum were going to give this house to me as a birthday present for when I turned eighteen, and now that I am eighteen, I finally get to escape.

I shake the thoughts from my head and walk to my bedroom and slump onto my bed in exhaustion. I feel my eyelids get heavier and heavier before finally, I drift off into a restful sleep.

I thrash around my bed in complete terror.

"Leave me alone!" I scream. The shadows dance teasingly around me. It's them. They've come back to get me.

They want revenge.

I jolt upwards, panting heavily. My eyes darting everywhere while my whole body shakes hysterically. My throat tightens, restricting the air travelling through my airway. The only noises I hear are the sounds of my heart and a loud, continuous beep in my ears.

I somehow manage to grab my phone and call one of the only contacts I have. I feel my vision cloud over but quickly blink it away.

"Isabelle?" I hear Adam speak through the speaker. I don't reply due to the fact that I couldn't breathe. "Isabelle? What's wrong?"

I bring the phone to my lips and whisper the couple words I've been wanting to say my whole life.

"Save me..."

A warm hand touches my forehead, I stiffen at the contact. The hand suddenly retreats back. I open my eyes slowly and take in my surroundings. Home?

No. I've never been to this place before.

"Isabelle, right?" A lady asks with a smile. I reluctantly nodded my head. She stands there awkwardly and just stares at me with a smile gracing her really pretty face.

"You've grown so much since I last saw you..." She whispers. I frown, confused as to how she knows me.

"Oh right!" She shakes her head, chuckling. "I'm Adams mum, Lucy. You had a panic attack last night, so, Adam brought you here just to make sure you would be okay."

I nod my head and smile at Lucy.

"Thank you..." I hoarsely croak out. Lucy waves her hand dismissively and shakes her head.

"Don't be, we didn't want you - "

"Mum!" A girl screams, running into the room. Lucy runs an annoyed hand through her hair and sighs.

"What is it, Millie?"

Millie?

"Adam, he keeps chasing me and being mean!" She cries. Suddenly, the bedroom door bangs open - again - and Adam walks in.

"Stay away from me you - you," Millie pauses trying to think of something to say. "You poo head!" I laugh loudly shaking my head.

Everyone's heads whip over to me.

"Isabelle!" Millie and Adam scream at the same time. Millie runs up to the bed and hugs me profoundly.

"Be careful Millie, she's still recovering from an incident..." Adam warns.

Millie lets go suddenly and looks me deep in the eyes. She leans over to my ear and cups it so no one can hear what she is about to tell me.

"Adam, he no longer uses me to get girls. Don't tell him, I told you that though!" I laugh quietly and shake my head, a blush rising on my cheeks.

Why do humans even have to blush?

"Don't worry, I won't," I say with a cheeky wink.