"Please state your name, age and date of birth." The stiff officer standing before me was probably about 40 years old. Married. Kids. Normal.

"Sabine Paige Greyson. Seventeen Years Old. 10th of September, 2000." I wish my life was anything like his.

"Do you swear to speak the truth, only the truth and nothing but the truth within this courtroom?" I can imagine it now. He'll go home, help his kids with their homework, kiss his wife. Just like my dad had done.

"Yes," it's not like I had a choice.

The officer nods, satisfied, and returns to his seat, giving the judge at the head of the room, beside me, the audience's full attention.

"Miss Greyson, I understand you have been through a tough time recently-" No bloody kidding, "-but we will require your full cooperation during the trial." I said nothing, didn't even nod my understanding.

The birds in the window immediately visible to me became incredibly fascinating all of a sudden. Their wings intrigued me, their pathways to freedom.

If only I had my own wings. If only I could escape from this nightmarish hell someone had decided would be my life.

My mother had loved birds, believed she had been one in a previous life. I remember the days of coming home from school where she would greet me in the backyard, feeding the birds. She adored them...

"Sabine? Sabine," I allowed my gaze to return to the short, tubby man social services had assigned to be my lawyer. I couldn't afford one on my own. "Can you concentrate for me, sweetie?" The fake sympathy rolling off him in waves only made me despise the man more, if possible.

"Yes. Just ask the questions already," if I was doing this, I wasn't going to hold back.

The shock settled upon his face, although, it couldn't be that big of a surprise that I didn't want to be here, maybe he just thought I'd tone it down in a courtroom. Oh well, I'd said I would speak the truth.

Instead of disputing my attitude, he decided to remain professional and looked straight at me.

"Can you tell us the full names of the victims?" Victims... That word makes them sound weak. They were anything but weak.

"Emily Paige Greyson and Adrian Noah Greyson." Their names brought back painful memories. The aching sense of loss threatens to consume me again, but somehow, I manage to keep myself together.

Despite my pain, the solicitor continues. "Do you understand why you are here? Can you explain what you saw?"

I automatically glance toward the man I've been trying to avoid seeing for the past hour. But it's a little hard when he's sitting first row. So very close.

The evil smirk that is plastered on his face makes me sick to my stomach. He's like a car crash, I want, so desperately, to look away, but I can't.

That smirk... It's the same one he held on that night.

"That monster-" I point toward him in his dark glory, replying to the question, "That monster killed my parent's right in front of me."

-

"Sabine, you don't think it would be safer to stay at the station, like detective Hudson said?" My best friend, Bliss Holly, asked for the billionth time. I don't know why she keeps asking, my response isn't going to change.

"Bliss, I told you. This will be my last night at home before they ship me off to God knows where... I just need to be here one last time. Please understand."

She kept her objections to herself, nodding, but the disapproval remained on her face.

"At least let one of the officers stay here with you?" Her compromise was a fair one, but I wasn't giving in. I knew she only wanted me to be safe. She had been my rock through all of this, after all. Keeping me calm in public and letting me stain her shirts with my tears in private. She was my gift from heaven.

"I know you want me to be safe, Bliss, but I need to be alone tonight. Please?"

"I don't like it... But, okay, if that's what you want... Promise me, though, that you will call detective Hudson if you hear absolutely anything outside-" She hesitated slightly before adding, "-Even if it's a mouse."

I smiled at her insistence and nodded my agreement. Bliss grinned-wide at that, although I hadn't completely laughed since my parents passing, she was taking what she could get.

It took a moment of silence for the emotions to all spill out at once, as we both reached for each other and I gripped her in a tight embrace. She returned the gesture as we held onto each other for dear life.

I knew she was worried about me, more than worried for my safety. We had been each others protectors since the day in kindergarten when she had beaten Mitchell Snyder over the head for calling me ugly... And now I was in a situation even she couldn't get us out of.

To some people, Bliss was extremely intimidating, and too others, she was a total flirt. But away from all of that, she was the closest thing I had to a sister. She always knew when I was about to break down, and helped me through it. She was gentle when she needed to be, despite others observations of her and now she was the only family I had left.

"I'm gonna miss you so damn much, Sabbie," She whispered against my shoulder, so soft I barely heard it. "But I want you to go... to be safe."

"I know, I know. I'm going to miss you too. But I'll try and contact you, to tell you I'm okay. I won't be gone long. I promise." I tried to give her hope, despite my own uncertainty.

Bliss nodded, absentmindedly, against my shoulder, before pulling back. She smiled broadly and I could tell she was okay again.

"You know..." She dragged out, "you might as well make the most of this and try and find yourself a cute cop." Boys were Bliss's favourite topic, second best only to whose ass she kicked most recently... I still wasn't sure those kick-boxing lessons had been a good idea with her temper. She winked at me and I rolled my eyes.

Bliss had been with her boyfriend, Christian, for almost two years now, and she was completely in love with him... not that that stopped her from checking out any 'hot eye-candy' as she described them, that walked by.

The worst part was, now that she was off the market, she put her boy time into trying to find someone for me.

"Oh, come on, Sabbie. You would love a copper, wouldn't you? Think of all that muscle and the sexy dangerous side." She was starting to get excited about the idea of this now. I had to shut her down quick.

"I can't imagine hard muscle is super comfortable... plus then he'd be all protective of me and what would you do with yourself?," I joked before gently nudging her shoulder. She started laughing and I was glad the discussion of my non-existent love-life was over. That was the least of my worries right now.

The sobriety of the room returned and she looked back at me through sad eyes.

"I'll see you tomorrow, before you leave, right?" She tried to remain calm but I knew her too well, I saw the panic laced in her vision and the fear of this being the last time we'd see each other.

''Of course. There is no way I would ever leave without saying goodbye to you first."

She smiled tightly and I saw her lips wobble, as if trying to keep in the tears. To hide it, she reached forward and pulled me into another hug.

"I love you, Sabine."

"I love you, too, Bliss."

-

My mother had always had immaculate taste when it came to possessions. Walking around the house, I saw that in full force. I was an only child, not by lack of trying on my parent's behalf, but mum just couldn't get pregnant again. Because of this, my parents and I were very close. The thought did nothing but bring forward pain and a reminder of how alone I now was...

A single tear slid down my face before I quickly wiped it away, I wasn't going to be sad tonight. Not on my last night in their home. Our home.

I continued my little trek across the house. Stepping into each room and soaking up the images and memories each setting brought forward. I admired every picture on the mantle, recalling each occasion.

My favourite picture was one that had been taken four years ago when my parents randomly decided to go on a road trip. We just got in the car and drove for hours, until we came into a town that had the most decedent park. Although my thirteen-year-old-self hadn't admitted it, I was so excited to play on that playground. A nice old lady had offered to take our picture and just as she did so, dad tickled my belly. My dark brown, almost black hair, hung in waves as my head threw back in laughter. Dad was also laughing and mum had the silliest smile on her face... we looked so happy. We were, I guess. Picking up the photograph, I slowly ran my fingers over my parent's faces before placing the picture in my back pocket.

Slowly, I returned to my walk through each room.

Eventually I gathered my courage and stepped, almost reverently, into the lounge room. The last room in the house. All the violence that had happened here came rushing forward and I held onto the opening banister as I was assaulted with images of my parents on their knees before the dark and merciless man.

Mum's scream pelted through my ears and the ringing of gun shots forced me forward. I sat on the floor, barely breathing as I willed the thoughts from my mind.

I stayed still for what felt like seconds but could have been hours. With some effort, I calmed my breathing and steeled myself, as I was learning to do.

Slowly, very slowly, I stood and walked out of the room without a glance back, and without another thought of my parents.

-

"Guilty... Guilty... Guilty..."

I suddenly jerked awake, screaming for it to stop. Sweat beaded down my forehead and my sheets were disheveled from all the thrashing around I'd been doing. A Dream, it was just a dream. I leaned back against the pillows and tried to slow my rapid breathing. The images wouldn't leave. They never did.

I hadn't had a single peaceful night since my parent's death. Every sleep was filled with images of death and blood.

Eventually my breathing calmed and I looked over at my bedside alarm clock. 7:30. I would have had to get up soon anyway.

Pulling back the covers, I stepped out of bed and was immediately assaulted by the cold. The joys of August. Coffee. I definitely need coffee.