Another day passed, and again, I didn't go to school.
After watching the video of my brother, something inside me lit up, it was small, but it lifted my mood. I got out of bed and went to the kitchen. My mother was shocked to see me there. She didn't say a word, just smiled and quietly placed food on the table.
I still wasn't speaking to her. She walked closer and gently patted my head. For a second, it felt peaceful. Then, a loud bang came from the front door. My father had arrived. Once again, he was drunk. My mother rushed to him, and just like always, the shouting began. They argued loudly, voices filled with anger and pain. Then I heard my father yell.
"Oh! Finally, your son is awake!"
My mother stood in front of me, trying to protect me as best as she could. But my father grabbed me by the shirt. Plates crashed to the floor. A chair fell over. Then he shoved me hard into the wall, and pushed my mother away. I just stood there, watching my mother fall to the ground. I felt nothing. Like I wasn't even alive. Just... there.
He screamed again.
"Look at me! It's your fault David died! You're a stubborn, useless son. This is all your fault!"
Those words shattered something inside me.
I pushed him back and ran outside. I grabbed my bike, ignoring my mother calling after me. I didn't care anymore. I was drowning in guilt and sadness. I rode through a quiet road as the sky grew darker. Tall trees lined the sides, and a cold breeze brushed against my skin. I kept riding until I couldn't anymore, I stopped and let my bike fall. I dropped to the ground, breathless.
Silence surrounded me.
I stared at the dirt beneath me. Then, I screamed at the top of my lungs, letting everything out. Tears streamed down my face as I wiped them away with shaking hands. I closed my eyes, trying to calm myself. Then, slowly, I looked up.
Fireflies.
A cluster of them floated around one tall tree, glowing softly. I walked closer, drawn by their light. For a moment, I forgot everything, the pain, the anger, the sadness.
Behind that tree, I noticed a narrow path, overgrown with tall grass, like no one had walked it in years. More fireflies danced along the path, and out of curiosity, I followed. I took out my phone and used the flashlight to guide me. The moon above lit the way too, and I felt like a child again, exploring a hidden world.
Then, I stopped. Right there, in the middle of nowhere, I saw a woman.
A woman in a white dress.
She was dancing, gracefully, beautifully. Her white dress flowed with every movement, glowing under the moonlight. I turned off my phone, mesmerized. I stayed hidden in the shadows, watching from behind the trees. Her eyes were closed. Her hair moved with the wind as she twirled. I didn't even realize I had stepped on a dry branch.
Snap. She froze. Then, without warning, she ran.
"Wait!" I called out, chasing after her.
But she was gone. I kept running through the darkness until suddenly, I slipped. The ground beneath me dropped.
I fell into the water.
I tried to swim, but something pulled me down. My feet were stuck. I gasped, then plunged under again, trying to see what it was. To my horror, I saw a woman with long, floating hair and sharp, claw-like nails, dragging me deeper. Panic filled my lungs instead of air. I kicked and fought, but my strength was fading. My vision blurred. Everything went dark.
Then, someone dove into the water. A hand touched my face, grabbed my arm.
And pulled me up toward the surface.