As Fragile as Glass

Five Years Ago

I sat in my brother's room on his bed as I listened to him and my parents fight. This has become a weekly thing now. I stopped crying about it a few months back. I'm just kind of numb to it now.

"Why won't you butt out of my life and let me live it the way I want to?!" Liam yelled.

"You really expect us to trust you to make good choices after the way you've been acting the past few months! Well that's not going to happen!" Mom screeched.

"So what? I skip a few days of school, smoked a few cigarettes, drank a few beers, and went to some parties! What's the big fucking deal?! I'm a teenager that's what I do!"

"That is it son! Your mother and I are tired of you thinking you can do whatever the hell you want to do and get away with it! You are grounded for six months!" Dad shouted.

"You can't do that! I'm almost 18 and you can't keep telling me what to do!" I heard Liam yell.

"I can, I will, and I did! When you turn 18 and move out of this house you can do whatever you want but until then you listen and obey our rules!"

"I hate you two! You're ruining my life!" Liam shouted at them.

I heard him run up the stairs. He ran into his room, slammed the door, and locked it. When he turned around and saw me his face softened instantly. He came over and sat beside me on the bed.

Liam sighed and said quietly,"Hey. I'm sorry you had to hear that."

"It's okay. I'm sorry they grounded you."

"It's not like it matters," he muttered.

"What do you mean?" I asked him now very confused.

Liam turned and looked at me with a serious expression.

"I'm going to tell you something but it's a secret. You can't tell anyone. Especially not Mom and Dad."

"Ok."

Liam took a deep breath. He knew he could trust me because we weren't just brother and sister. We were best friends.

"I'm running away and I'm leaving tonight. I can't stay here any longer. Mom and Dad are driving me crazy. They just don't understand me. I'm not going to be the perfect son they want me to be and I'm tired of them trying to change me. I have to do this. Please understand," he gave me a pleading look.

I just sat there stunned at what he just said. What would I do without him. Liam was my rock. When no one else liked me, Liam was there. When no one else understood me, Liam was the one the would. I knew I would be the only reason he would stay here though and I didn't want to be the reason he was so miserable.

"I understand."

He smiled at me and hugged me.

"Thank you Summer. That means the world to me. You want to help me pack?"

"Yea."

We were both quiet as we packed. Both of us deep in thought.

"I think that's it," Liam declared when we finished.

"Wait! Hold on!" I told him before running out of his room.

I came back a few seconds later with an envelope. I handed him it.

"Here."

He opened it and looked shocked.

"I can't take this! There must be like two hundred dollars in here!"

"I was going to spend it on you anyways for your birthday so just say thank you and take it," I told him.

He looked at it then back at me and asked,"Are you sure?"

"I'm positive. Now go!"

Liam gave me a giant hug and kissed me on the top of my head.

"Thanks."

I smiled sadly at him. He went over to the window and crawled out of it onto the tree beside it.

Just before he shimmed down the tree he looked at me and said,"Good bye Summer."

"Good bye Liam."

I watched him climb down the tree and disappear into the night. Disappear out of my life. I felt tears start to roll down my cheeks. I wiped them away and closed the window. I left his room and shut the door behind me. Then I ran into my own room, shut my door, and cried myself to sleep.

Notes

Hey guys! What's up? This is only my second story so it might be a little crappy so sorry if it is. Tell me what you think! Please comment, rate, and subscribe. That's it for now so see ya later! Stay beautiful! :)