43.

Silence engulfed the whole spacious room for what felt like eternity as we so quietly stared at each other, my mind still revolving around those specific moments just a few hours ago back in the backyard.

His bright blue eyes held my own for a few moments longer, not even bothering to hide the hurt and despair pulsing so vividly inside of them as he almost pleadingly uttered,

“You know you don’t have to do this.

We can always leave this place and-”

“And what?” I suddenly found myself asking out loud,

“Go back to that wretched place we used to call a home? To that monster who calls herself a mother?” I watched him cast his gaze somewhere to the carpeted floor, quickly rising up from my seat as I could practically feel his anger and frustration only growing, lowering on my knees right in front of his sitting form as I quietly said,

“I’m sorry, Rem, but I can’t do this. Not anymore...”

I took a moment to swallow the growing boulder threatening to crush the inside of my throat, tightly gr