We need the compassion and the courage to change the conditions that support our suffering. Those conditions are things like ignorance, bitterness, negligence, clinging, and holding on.

~Sharon Salzberg

* * *

I try to focus more on my aching feet than of the feeling of Dominic's hand against my own. We are currently walking up a long flight of stairs that may hopefully lead to the rooftop unless otherwise. I feel my body soon start to lose any ounce of energy it has, exhaustion taking over.

"We're here." The deep melodic sound of his voice echoes into my ears. I lightly nod but remember its pitch black around us, minus the little light rays beaming around from our front, so he obviously can't see me.

Dominic then goes to open a rusty half-broken down door. My pupils dilate on the impact of my widened eyes. I stand grounded in awe when I set sight on the beautiful night sky shining before us. Millions and billions of stars Illuminated the sky giving its appearance a magnificent blazing glow.

I therefore realize that the night is a special kind of blackness, the kind that wants only to hold the stars, and help them to shine all the brighter. It is a warm black that hugged you no matter what, and within it's safety I could feel my soul all the more clearly, that innocent inborn spark. It is the softness that calls the body, and the brain to rest and lets the heart go to its steady rhythm.

Lost in my reverie, I don't notice that Dominic was seated on the roof top, legs dangling and facing the ground, six levels down.

"Beautiful isn't it?" I heard him say, causing my heart to leap at his deep British accent. Damn, why can't mine sound so good to even my own ears?! Apparently finding myself quite, he continues to speak. "This is my favorite place, I often come here in the late evening or early hours of the day to just relax and think. To get away from all the shitty drama in my life, where I can truly be myself."

The silence was unbearable, only the sounds of our faint breathing and chirping crickets rang in our ears. Walking over to where he was, I sat down next to him and replied saying, "it's beyond beautiful, how did you find this place?"

Dominic looked over to me with hesitation, but soon carried on to talk. "About six years ago, when I was 12. My father would come home very late in the evening, extremely drunk to the point where he could barely walk. My mother would take me with her to the guest room to hide until he completely passed out. A few times we would stay without seeing him in his drunk state but other times he would beat the crap out of us then lock me out in the yard and not let me in for about roughly five days," he says, tearing our gaze and looking straight then continues, "I needed a place to stay, so I wondered the streets searching for a shelter to stay in whilst my mother was held hostage, being constantly beaten by that son of a bitch I call my father. This was the only place, I could come to. I came here every night from that day, seeing as all my worries, pain, and suffering seems to depart when I'm here. But never ceases to live once I go back into the cruel world."

"That's pretty messed up." I find myself saying before I can rethink the words leaving my mouth. I don't see a reason for me apologizing for something I haven't caused. And here I am, thinking I have a messed up life when clearly it's not compaired to his.

A light chuckle escapes his mouth making my lips curl up at the sides. "I like that you're not showing me pity. It makes me look vulnerable." My eyes meet his and I fail to reckon what feeling he posses, instead he holds a blank face that is void of any emotion. Most probably hiding his true self.

"Uh... my mother got hit by a car and died at the scene. It's a painful memory and leaves a large hole in my heart. Many times people look down on me with pity, and it makes me look vulnerable, so I know how it feels." I say all of a sudden, feeling like I needed to make this appear less awkward.

"Shit, Dominika. You didn't have to bring that up." Dominic said with regret evident in his eyes.

"It's fine, you never forced me into saying anything, and neither did I so, it's a win-win." I said with a smile, which he generously returned.

"How do you find the sky to be?" I asked, turning to look above us then back at him.

Dominic shrugged, still looking at me and said, "I find the sky to be as beautiful as it is deadly, bright as our wildest dreams but dark as a nightmare. It can set us free, drunk on sky, or trap us in invisible barriers that confine and leave us heavy with desperation. Wispy clouds can represent the merest strands of hope or the slimmest chance of survival."

"Extraordinary." I whispered with a goofy smile at his quote about the sky.

Everything became silent all of a sudden. The atmosphere thickening with heavy tension. I couldn't differ if it was sexual or simply awkwardness. Dominic still had his eyes on my face, and I swear I saw them divert to my lips for a bit longer than intended. Soon the face of reality seemed to close down on me as Dominic began to move his head closer. My skin turned bright red immediately. Was he about to kiss me?! As his head moved closer the anxiety seemed to take a toll on my nerves causing me to panic. What if I have bad breath or am not a good kisser. Do I want him to be my first?

Honey just shut up, and stop worrying.

Only a few inches apart until something vibrated on my right thigh, causing my head to snap downward and Dominic to groan.

The stupid phone.

"Fucking timer." Dominic mumbled, taking out his phone and turning it off.

"We should go." He said angrily, quickly and almost immediately shifting his position and standing to his feet. My eyes absentmindedly look to his crotch and widen upon seeing his huge bulge pressing against his thin sweats, leaving minor images to the imagination. Whoa. It was hard not to look, especially for my virgin eyes I found myself gulping at the size.

Uh... maybe you should stop staring you creepy perv.

Dominic's eyes catch sight of where my eyes are directed which allows me to look away and stand to my feet.

Awkward

We walk in silence the whole way back home and surprisingly reach fast. Since he's in a mood, and not talking to me, I dash for the tree leading to my room window but I'm stopped merely and pulled flash against Dominic's rock hard chest.

My body tenses up, but I soon wrap my arms around his waist and hug back. Might as well enjoy this. His wonderful scent fills my nose as I secretly inhale it like some creep.

"Goodnight." He whispers into my ear before leaving my body cold.

_==_==_==_

I successfully make it back into my room without breaking any bones. I take my pajamas into the bathroom and do a quick change. When I come out, I go to turn on the lights, and that's when my whole body stops functioning.

A small shriek leaves my lips but I soon cover my mouth using my palm. "DOMINIKA BELLE NICOLETTE!" My father's thick polish accent echoes into the quiet room. It surprises me how Amalia and I both grew up in Poland almost half our lives but once we moved to Britain our accents completely changed, whilst his is still rich and thick. Lucky. It's not that I hate British accents cause c'mon they are to die for but I just feel like I betrayed my home town. Maybe I should just change my accent to Australian. Oi Mate?

A worried looking grandma Candace leaps into my arms and holds me tight. "Oh my dear child, where were you?!?!" She begs.

Amalia holds a smirk on her lips and says, "sneaking out to go see your boyfriend at one in the morning, how cliché sis." Wyatt and Dorothy snicker behind her making my cheeks flush.

"I was out getting some fresh air, don't worry too much." I answered with irritation in my voice. Jeez, I didn't go jump off a cliff or some crazy suicide attempt.

"Toby said you were off to bed and when I came to kiss you goodnight you were not here. Amalia said she hadn't seen you and you weren't anywhere in the house. I ended up calling your father, and he went out looking for you." She scolded. All their eyes were filled with worry except my father's whose were with disappointment.

"I won't go out again. I'm sorry." I sighed in defeat, returning the hug my father gave me. "I missed you dad." I whispered into his shoulder.

"I missed you more sweetie. You and your sister."

"Okay Harold let my granddaughter rest, I'm sure she's tired." Grandma Candace comes to pull him away from me.

"Mom!" He whines causing us all to laugh.

"Dad I have school tomorrow, get out." I groaned.

"Actually about that. I'm taking you and your sister out tomorrow. I called the school so, you don't have to worry about it."

"Yes!" Amalia cheered, jumping up and down excitedly. Pssh, school haters. I simply smiled and walked over to open the door, letting them out. It would be nice to spend some time with him.

Once they were all out of my room I wasted zero time and wrapped myself in my warm comforter letting sleep consume me instantly.

****

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Love, Lily ♥