"I'll call you family in now, I'll check up on you again soon," She says before exiting the room. Scenarios start running through my head. Before I get lost in thought there is a knock on the door.

"C-Come in," I say clutching the blanket slightly.

Here we go again...

The door opens and I relax when I see Xander, Izzy, Amanda, and Carol. I almost cry tears of joy seeing them instead of my father and brother.

"Emilia! I'm so glad you awake!" Izzy says running to me and giving me a huge. I wince slightly but smile at her.

"Izzy, be careful," Amanda says softly warning her.

"Sorry Emilia," She says looking down.

"It's okay Izzy," I say putting my hand on her head. Everyone eyes are on me but no one says anything. They hold confusion and hurt but mostly sadness. No pity? I just look down from their intense stares, not knowing what to say.

Carol walks over to me and takes a set in the chair gently grabbing my hand.

"How are you doing Emilia?" She says tears pooling in her eyes.

"I'm doing f-fine," I say trying not to cry. Why do they care about me?

"Are you hungry?" Amanda asks.

"Y-Yeah a little," I say.

"I'll go get something for you," Amanda says walking out of the room with Izzy.

"W-What time is it?" I ask them avoiding eye contact. I can't look them in the eyes. I just can't.

'you're pathetic'

"10:30 pm, we were just getting some drinks in the cafeteria when Xander told us you were awake," Carol says with a joyous smile on her face. A small smile tugs at my lips as I look at my fiddling hands. I hear the door open and see a tray of food in Amanda's hand. She walks over to me setting the food tray on my lap.

There is a chicken sandwich, green beans, and jello. Doesn't look too bad. I start eating in silence. No one saying a word. What could they say though?

'Why?' is probably the questions running through there heads. It's the giant elephant in the room.

"Emilia, I just want you to know we are here for you, for anything, and your gonna be staying with me when you are allowed to leave the hospital. You father hasn't answered yet," Carol says to me. I feel sudden joy at that news. She cares enough to take me in after all of this?

"Thank you, Carol," I say. I might be grateful for their help, but I feel guilty having them waste their time on someone like me.

"I'm sorry to have us leave so soon, but it is late and we have to head home to sleep. I hate to leave after you just woke up but we promise to be back right in the morning. Okay?" Amanda says.

"Y-Yeah that's okay, I understand," I say to them. They all give me hugs before leaving.

Xander goes to the door shutting it. Isn't he leaving?

"Xander you can go too, I'll be fine one night," I say trying to convince him, he looks really tired.

"No, not when I just got you back, I'm not leaving again, I want to know everything Emilia. Please trust me?" He pleads with sadness in his voice. I don't say anything, I don't even look at him. I can't look at him.

I hear him sit in the chair next to me, he grabs my hand and I don't move away. It feels warm and comforting.

"Look at me Emilia," He says. I shake my head. I can't.

"Emilia, Please," he practically begs. I abruptly look up at him to see his sad eyes looking deep into mine.

"Emilia, I want you to listen to me, Okay? I care about you. There are people who care about you," He says with sincerity in his voice. I don't move, I just stare at him.

"I'm gonna tell you something about me that nobody knows," He says.

"You d-don-"

"I want to, I want to show you that you can trust me," He says with seriousness in his voice. I don't say anything.

"Where to begin?" He says.

--Xander's P.O.V.--

-2 years ago- Xander 15 y/o

My father stumbles through the front door, drunk again I assume. I feel mom tense beside me.

"Where is my dinner you fucking bitch?" He snarls.

"I-It's on the table dear, just the way you like it," She says going to the kitchen. My dad stumbles to his seat, plopping down ungracefully.

"Get me a beer!" He yells at her. She jumps and quickly goes to the fridge. She freezes with fear evident on her face.

"I'm waiting!" He yells again.

"I-I'm sorry honey, but we are out," She says fear evident in her voice.

"What. do. you. mean?" He grits his teeth. He stands up and heads towards mom.

"W-We are out, I can go get some and very quick for you," She pleads. He gets up and slaps her. She falls to the ground, whimpering in pain. I get up quick staring down my father with anger evident on my face.

"What are you gonna do boy?" He taunts me. I feel anger rise in me causing me to clench and unclench my fist.

"Alex, No-" mom starts to say but he hits her again.

"DID I TELL YOU TO SPEAK!" He yells at mom. I charge at him and punch him right in the face. He stumbles but doesn't fall.

"Damn boy, ya gotta mean hook on ya," He says laughing at me with a smirk on his face.

"There is more where that came from," I say to him. I look at my mother and she has tears in her eyes.

"Please don't-" She starts to plea to him.

"No, honey. Your son needs to be taught a little lesson about defying me. NOW MOVE!" He tries to hit her but I grab his arm twisting it slightly. I've had enough of this shit! My adrenaline is rushing through my veins giving me more strength.

"Oh, would ya lo-" I punch him again square in the face and he doubles over grabbing his nose. He swings at me but is too drunk to hit me. He charges at me with a furious look in his eyes. I move over quickly as he stumbles behind me. I kick his knee and he falls over onto the floor. He rolls onto his back and groans in pain.

I get over top of him and start throwing punch after punch.

All I see is red!

"You fucking asshole!" I yell as I continue to punch him. All these years, all the abuse. He is finally getting what he deserves!

"Alexander! Stop! You're gonna kill him!" I stop mid punch and look down. His face is covered with blood and his nose looks broken. He starts to laugh.

"You can't even finish the job boy!" He says with a smug look on his face. He turns his head and spits blood on the floor. I punch him one last time and he groans.

"Leave and NEVER come back or I will do worse!" I yell at him.

"I know you ain't ordering me around! This is MY house!" He says. I raise my fist again and he flinches away.

"Shall I go on?" I spit out. I get off of him and he tries to get to his feet. I roll my eyes and roughly pull him to his feet. He stumbles out the door.

"This ain't the last you'll be seein' of me boy!" He yells before slamming the door.

----

"I finally just snapped the years of abuse towards my mother. I just couldn't take it I couldn't let them be hurt anymore. I was finally strong enough to fight back. I would try to take most of the beatings. I had to protect my mother and sisters." I say looking over at Emilia's shocked face. I starting to pull my shirt off.

"Wh-What are you doing?" She says scooting over slightly. I don't say anything and turn my back towards her. I completely take off my shirt. I hear a gasp escape her lips.

"H-He did this?" She asked sadness lacing her voice. I nod my head looking down. I feel her hand touch along the scars on my back, then quickly pulls away like she hurt me.

"S-Sorry,"

"It's okay," I tell her. I put my shirt back on and turn to her.

"You said you had sisters?" She asked me curiously. I look down at my hands.

"Yeah, s-she u-h...she killed herself 4 years ago. She wrote a letter telling us that school became too much because of bullies. I felt so stupid that I never knew, never noticed. She hid it so well and when dad would come home drunk every night didn't really help her either. He was an abusive ass. I just wish she would have told me." I say as tears fall down my face.

I feel her wrap her arms around me and squeezes me comfortingly. I wrap my arms around her and continue.

"I found out the same night my father left he got in a car accident. I should have taken his keys. I didn't even think about it because I was so angry at him." I pause

"There were two girls in the car that night, I didn't know them. One died, while the other only had a few broken bones but nothing serious. I felt so guilty and still do. That girl died because of my stupidity!" I say as I feel her tense under me and then let's go with a blank face on her.

"H-How long ago was that?" She asks in a shaky voice.

"I-I think it was about 2 years ago, why?" I ask curiously with concern in my voice.

"What was their names?" She says her voice blank of any emotions.

"I think one girl was named, Lily, or Lucy, or something like that. The name started with an L," I say still trying to think.

"Lydia," She says, I see tears form in her eyes.

"Y-Yeah, that was her name. How did y-,"

"What was the other girl's name," She asks, interrupting me. I'm confused. Why does she want to know?

"U-Uh, I think Emma, or Emily? or," Then I stop and look at her and see she is crying. It finally hits me like a ton of bricks

"Emilia, Emilia was her name," I say with so much sadness in my voice.