When I came back home, I immediately went to my room, not feeling like wanting to talk to anyone. Once inside, I sat by the alcove in the window, plugged in my headphones and played 'Memories' by Maroon 5 ().

Italics- flashbacks

"Hi, I'm Alex," A boy with dark blue eyes and brown hair smiled at me. He looked to be about ten years old.

"Hi, I'm Iris," I returned the smile shyly. My face was streaked with tears. Elise and David had been fighting. Today was the worst one yet. I went to ask Elise if she was okay and she yelled at me, saying how everything was my fault and it would've been better if I hadn't been born. As soon as she said that, she tried to apologise but I was already gone. I'd decide to run and pray which ended me up in the Pratoh Park.

"Why are you crying?" Alex sat next to me.

"Mommy and Daddy are fighting," I said miserably, "and mommy yelled at me," I proceeded to tell him everything. Alex listened patiently and comforted me- it'd been a while since anyone showed me that level of understanding and care. Sure, my brothers were there, but they were also trying to deal with it. They occasionally comforted me, but usually they tried to shield me from the fighting.

After that talk, I would try to sneak away to the Park to meet Alex. He was always there with a smile on his face and would listen to my problems- no matter how big or small.

"Alex," I was now eight years old. Elise had started ignoring me, but I didn't think much of it then. I thought she was just coping with the divorce and everything.

"Yeah prinkípissa?" Alex was lying on the grassy ground with his eyes closed. ()

"Will you stay with me forever?" I asked childishly.

Alex sat up and looked me in the eye, "Forever and always, Iris. I promise."

I grinned happily and laid back, staring at the blue starry sky.

He broke that promise. He left me. I miss him.

"Jax," Alex was laying on the bed. The cancer had spread and was getting worse.

"Yeah Alex?"

Alex breathed heavily, "promise me that you will look after Iris. Get her out of there as soon as you can. Remember, I will always be watching over you guys. And Iris?"

"Yeah Al?" I had tears flowing down my face. Jax had his arm wrapped around me and I could feel him crying too.

"Promise me," he took a shaky breath and began coughing up blood. I quickly rushed to him and gave him a glass of water, "promise me that you will always stay strong. Even when I'm not there. I love you, Rainbow."

I nodded, "I love you too, Al."

Alex grinned at Jax, "Love you too, bro."

Jax chucked weakly, "right back at you." They hugged and I hugged Alex next. It was late but I didn't care- even if I got a beating.

"Hey," Alex looked away towards the heart monitor, "can you guys go and get me some snacks? The hospital food is awful."

We both nodded and left the room. When we came back with a pack of skittles, all we got was a sympathetic Doctor who told us Alex had died.

The months after that were like I was drowning. There was no light and no escape. I honestly felt like ending it all. However, Alex's words would always come to mind whenever these dark thoughts arose:

'Promise me that you will always stay strong. Even when I'm not here. I love you, Rainbow.'

He kept me going, even if he wasn't there.

Alex was my light. He saved me.

I was eight years old and walking to the Park. Alex and I had made a new friend called Jax. He seemed really nice. Suddenly, these two men appeared out of no where and tried to kidnap me. I fought back but just when I'd lost all hope, Alex came. He beat up the kidnappers badly and then called the police before hugging me for the longest time. I was crying a lot.

"Shh," he whispered, "I've got you. It's going to be okay. I will be there for you, always."

I miss you Alex, I thought, why did you have to leave me?

(End of song)

You know that moment when you listen to a song that's so relatable you wonder whether the artist created a song about your life? Well, that happened to me.

When the song was over, I found my eyes slightly misty. I hastily wiped them and exhaled shakily. I scrolled through some photos on my phone and stumbled across one where Alex, Jax and I were standing in the Park. This was before we knew about the illness and were were laughing and grinning happily at the camera. Alex was the oldest out of the three of us and acted like our big overprotective brother.

Biting my lip I opened the window and looked out into the beautiful sunset.

"Hey Alex," I said to the sky, "It's been a while since we talked. Life's been pretty hectic. I've gone back to live with my dad and brothers and stepfamily. Elijah and Brandon seem to expect me to just act like everything is okay. I mean, they left me for eight years. No visit, phone call or even a text! As for Daimen... he seems to have a problem with me coming back. Maybe I shouldn't have come here, I don't know. My stepfamily is nice. Not at all like how Disney movies portray them! Yeah. Anyways, I'll let you get back to whatever you're doing in Heaven. I love you Al." I drew back into my room, suddenly exhausted. I leaned back against the wall, closed my eyes and went to sleep.

I leaned against the wall outside my sister's bedroom, having heard that entire conversation with Alex. Tears blurred my vision and I blinked them back harshly. I was so rude to Iris. I've been imagining the reunion for years. I imagined Iris to be the same girl she was years ago, all bubbly and happy. Instead, she's this cold mean teenager and I don't know what to do. So I did the one thing I was good at. Shutting people out.

Now, I realise what a big mistake that was.

I went inside her room and picked Iris up and placed her in her bed. I made sure she was comfortable and kissed her forehead softly, "I missed you, neonata," I whispered, "I love you," I left the room, closing the door quietly behind me.

😢