I see myself running around my living room. My dad was chasing me. I was screaming. "Stopp! Daddy I didn't do it!" He never believed me. I see a gash on my arm. My shirt was soaked with my own blood. My mom was still at work. Nobody was going to save me. "YOU ARE SUCH A LIAR! I KNOW YOU BROKE IT!" He grabbed my arm. CRACK! I scream for him to stop. CRACK! Another blow to my head. I am only 9 years old. He shaking me and screaming at me. I am barely conscious. CRACK! I struggle to stay awake and I try to break free. "Struggle all you want Cleo. You will never get free. You need to be punished for what you did. I AM SICK OF YOU!" He punches my stomach. I yelp. I know my arm will be bruised. Another punch. "Daddy stop! I didn't--"

Suddenly someone grabs me. I freak out. I try to punch him. No way was he hurting me again. His arms prevented me from throwing punches so I knee him. "OW! Cleo! Stop it…its Niall. Please wake up Cleo." I stop fighting. I open up to see Niall. I leap out of the bed and slam the bathroom door shut. I sink down on the ground and just break down. I look down at my arms…I see all the scars I had from growing up with a monster. "Cleo…baby please open up."
"NO! Just leave me alone. I…" I start sobbing again. I missed Mickey. He would make me tea and then pop in a Disney movie for me to watch. I have no idea what time is it. "Cleo please…just let me in."
"What…time is it?" I hear him sigh and move around. "Almost 3am. Cleo please…I want to be there for you."
"Why? Nobody wants…to be there…minus Mickey…"
"Because I care about you Cleo…please." I quickly wipe my tears and take one last look at my arm. At the scar that I trace unconsciously now. I take a deep breath and open it. Niall comes over and tries to hug me. "No. I don't need a hug Niall."
"Do you want--"
"No. Sorry if I hit you."
"Its alright. I got abs of steel. Are you sure--"
"Yes lets just drop it okay? I'm going back to bed." I climb back under the covers. I fell asleep again. Shockingly I was actually having a nice dream. I was reliving the first day I met Mickey. To be honest I thought he was gay the first couple of months I knew him. Then he kissed me. Which was weird because I only liked him as a friend but we were 16. Hormones were all over the place. I was enjoying my dream when suddenly I hear my name. I wake up and check the time it was almost 9am. I look over at Niall and he's grasping at the air next to him. Ha he gets nightmares too. Then I hear my name escape from his lips. "No Cleo don't go again. NO!" I sat there gaping at him. He dreamed about…me? He was crying now. "No bring her back! I loved her! She was mine…Cleo come back please." I pushed him off the bed. "OW! Cleo what the hell?"
"You were having a nightmare…I think. So I woke you up." He looked at me but just laid there on the ground. Then his eyes went wide. He looked at me with panic again. "You didn't…um…I didn’t…say anything right?"
"Oh things were said." Then his face turned bright red. He ran into the bathroom and I hear the shower running. Whatever. I could care less. I decide to rummage through my clothes and pick out something to wear. I decide on a pair of high-waisted shorts and an Aztec pocket tee. Niall comes out with just a towel on. I find myself praying that it drops. He won't even look at me. I go to shower. When I come out he's dressed in jeans and a tank top. His eyes trace my body when I put on my makeup. "You don't need that."
"Do I look like I care what you think?" I continued to put on makeup. Mostly just mascara and concealer. I hate wearing a lot when I am off work. I get out of the bathroom to see Niall holding pictures on the bed. "What are those?" His head snaps up and looks at me. He quickly scrambles away from me and puts them in his suitcase. Oookay. "You ready to go? I've got the whole day planned for us."
"What? Exploring Dublin with the guys? I don't need to. I already--"
"We are taking a day trip. It’s a surprise." He smiled at me then grabbed my purse and phone for me. I sighed and went after him. He was talking to Harry. I grabbed my purse from him and checked my phone for any new messages from Mickey. Nothing…he's probably not even up yet. Lord knows that child can sleep. I was standing there when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I spin around to see some girl. "Hi. I'm Eleanor. Nice to meet you." Who? Should I know who this chick is? "Uh…nice to meet you too." She smiles at me then looks at Niall and Harry. "What boys no hello? I'm hurt." They look and smile then run over and hug her. I stand there awkwardly. I have no ide who this person is. I miss Mickey…I sigh and go outside. I just needed fresh air. I walk and sit down on a bench by the hotel. I felt my phone buzz. "MICKEY! I miss you!!"
"Miss you too Cleo…how is it going?"
"Alright I guess. We have to share a bed. So that sucks." I decide to leave out the whole dream fiasco.
"WHAT? Why would you tell me that?! Are you trying to kill me?" I can't help but laugh at him.
"Sorry Mickey. I have no intention on killing you. I would miss teasing you too much."
"Wow thanks. How long are you gone?"
"I don't know a long time. Maybe I'll run away one night and return to you!"
"I can't wait for that! Hold on let me see if I can squeeze that into my schedule…"
"MIIICKEYYY! God I miss you. I know practically no one. I barely even talk. Except when I visited the orphanage."
"I was going to say you should stop on by. You're there for a week right?"
"Yea I plan on going another time. Niall has this whole stupid surprise event for today. Come save me."
"I'm on my way." I laugh then see Niall coming towards me. Great.
"I have to go but I promise to call you when I get the chance okay? Oh tell Lola I miss her too."
"Will do babe. Is the evil boy toy making you get off the phone."
"Oh my gosh! Don't call him that! But yes. I really have to go. He's making that face." I look at Niall and smile. "That'll be our nickname for him now. And fiiiine. Bye babe. LOVE YOU!"
"Love you too Mickey." I hang up and look at him. "What?" He just grabs my hand and leads me to the car. Great. Where the fuck was he taking me? We've been driving for what felt like ages. Then suddenly we pass a sign. I barely catch what it said. But I would recognize that name anywhere. Mullingar. Home to the worst parents ever. The place I have tried so desperately to stay away from. "Niall what the fuck were you thinking taking me here?! TURN THIS CAR AROUND RIGHT NOW!"
"Not a chance. My mom wants to see you again. I'm not the only one who missed you."
"I don't give a shit. TAKE ME BACK TO DUBLIN RIGHT FUCKING NOW!" I was seething mad.
"No! I only get to see my family every so often."
"YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO BRING ME! I hate you! I HATE MULLINGAR!" I was beyond pissed now. He just kept looking at the road. And about 30 minutes later we pulled into his driveway. I look outside and see the one person I have tried to forget. Lina Somerson. My birth mother. "Cleo you can't just stay in the car."
"You bet I fucking can."
"Cleo for god's sake just come on." I know he hasn't seen my mother. He doesn’t know what happened. Suddenly I hear Maura running out and hugging Niall. She looks at me and opens my car door. "Cleo!!! Darling I thought you were gone forever! Oh so nice to see you beside Niall again." I get out of the car and I hear a gasp come from behind me. I whirl around to see my mother. "Cleo?"
I just look at her. Emotionless. She comes running over and hugs me. "Oh I never thought I would see you again. My lovely daughter." I push her off of me. It took everything in me not to punch her. "You have no right to call me your daughter. You are the worst fucking mother in the world. You gave up the right to call me yours 9 years ago. I know you remember that day. I have a mom now. Who actually loves me and cares for me. So don't you dare even say that I am your daughter. I was nothing but a thing that kept you with that monster. I FUCKING HATE YOU!" I was screaming. She just looks shocked. I whirl around to face Niall. "And you! You asshole. Why the fuck would you bring me back here?! I am done with you. DONE! Do you hear me Niall??" Then suddenly Niall was hugging me. "Shh Cleo…baby you don't mean that. You're just angry. Please stay…"
"No! I just can't…my past is better when it stays where it should…in the past."
"Cleo please…just stay. I just got you back." I can tell he's about to cry. Which makes me start to cry. I get out of his hug and just run. I head straight to the park. Our spot. The place I once went to get away from everything.

Notes