It's now Monday, the last day of school. The last day before my life becomes an endless shit show. As I enter the school, I look to the football field to the left of the main building. The bleachers are massive, and no one is at the field. Only issue is that there's a fence at the top. If I could climb that fence and jump...

I turn towards the football field. Maybe I'll just look at the drop and then decide. I've got time before class starts. About half and hour to kill.

I head to the field, not seeing anyone else there, I proceed up the bleachers and press my face to the chain link fence at the top. It doesn't appear to hard to climb, and the fall looks like it would be over quick...

I begin to climb. There's a small ledge between the fence and the fall. I can change my mind and climb back if I want, but it's much easier to just go at that point.

I climb the fence and get onto the large, carefully keeping my footing as I risk going over the side. Well, risk isn't the right term here.

"Do it," the voice demands, "give in Richard."

I hold the fence as anxiety wells up within me. I...

I...

I can't do it!

I scamper back over over the fence, my heart pounding and my stomach churning, causing me to vomit. I begin to catch my breath. I can't do it. I can't write if I'm dead! I...

No. Writing doesn't matter. I need to do this now. Before someone else finds me. This is my only-

"Richard?" A voice asks.

I turn around, only to be greeted by Lily, who looks at me with a look of concern on her face. Her usual smile replaced by this look of compassion and worry. "Are you OK?"

I know it's better to lie, to say I'm fine, but something possesses me to speak the truth. I cover my mouth as the word just escapes me, "no."

"No you idiot!" The voice exclaims.

"What happened?" Lily asks, "you sick?"

OK, now I start lying.

"Just stress," I sigh, sitting down, "school's ending soon, and, I don't know what I'm going to do."

"Your parents huh?" Lily asks.

I nod. "What are yours like?" I inquire.

"Oh," Lily appears shocked, "Uhhhh..."

Lily turns away. "How do you feel about pot becoming legal around the country?"

"Oh boy," I begin, "That SHIT. It's illegal, and it should stay that way. You can't have parents who still have their kids living with them smoking that. In fact, no one should smoke it at all. If it's legal, at least keep it away from kids. Your kids live with you, then I better not find a bong, or else. That's where I stand."

"Oh," Lily smiles, "I agree. Well, except medical use, but the parents can just, like, look at other options or have the kids go elsewhere. Nah, maybe that second one is to extreme too."

"We're off topic," I remind, "What about your parents?"

"They're great," Lily smiles sweetly, and I feel the oddly pleasant feeling grow, "I just don't like it when they work, but we love each other all the same."

"I'm glad your home life is good," I reply, "I would never wish this on anyone else, even my worst enemy."

There is a silence as we enjoy the view of the sun, just now finishing its rise over the horizon in a dazzling sight. It truly is beautiful, and as much as I admire it...

I keep finding my focus back on Lily.

"Hey," I ask, "What are you doing down here?"

"I jog two laps each day right before class," Lily explains, "What about you?"

"I got sick and didn't want to be sent home," I lie.

"It's the last day," Lily smiles, "Would they even care?"

I shrug.

"I don't even think they're taking attendance," Lily continues, "No one would notice if we weren't in class."

"What are you playing at?" I inquire.

"Let's ditch," Lily smiles.

"Ditch!?!" I exclaim, "Are you completely mad?"

"Oh come on," Lily smiles, "I mean, I'd agree any other day, but today is an exception, and, besides, I was going to anyways."

"My mom is gonna kill me if I'm not here when school ends," I reply.

"What's her number?" Lily inquires.

"What are you-"

"Trust me."

I take out my phone and pull up my mom in my contacts, showing her number to Lily. Lily dials a number into her phone.

"Are you calling her?" I ask, fear welling up within me, "ARE YOU MENTAL?"

"Nope," Lily chuckles as the phone rings, "Just careless."

My mom answers.

"Hello," Lily greets, "Is this Ms. West?"

There's a silence before Lily continues, "I'm Lily. I'm a friend of Richard's, and I just wanted to let you know he won't be coming home with you. See, him and I were planning to hang out. He told you a week ago I think."

I hear my mom grow angry, and I begin to sweat. I become nauseous once more.

"He said you said sure," Lily bluffs, and bluffs well, "And I understand if you answered absent minded, but I already made plans."

Silence.

"I'm gonna be sick," I whisper.

"It's OK," Lily whispers back, "I have this under control."

I almost throw up as there is a long silence before Lily replies, "Alright. Have a good day Ms. West."

Lily hangs up and gets up.

"Let's go," she smiles.

I'm shaking, my legs totally fail me. I can't move. I can't speak. I just freeze up.

"Richard?" Lily asks, her face returning to the look of concern I see so rarely, "Richard? Can you hear me?"

"Move it kid!" The voice demands.

I can't move. I can't blink. I can't breath. I can't do anything. I'm just stuck.

"Richard?" Lily shakes me now, panic on her face, "It's OK Richard. She's OK with it. It's OK. Speak to me."

I attempt to break free from my frightening prison to no avail. Nothing can wake my from my dream-like state I'm stuck in. I am left totally paralyzed.

"Richard!" Lily exclaims, "Richard! Speak to me! Please!"

Nothing.

"Snap out of it!" Lily begs, "Kt's OK! Just snap out of it!"

Lily hugs me, almost as if to comfort me. "Come back Richard," she pleads, "It's OK. It's OK. You're OK Richard."

The hug is pleasant. All my fear leaves me, and the pleasant feeling grows even more. The hug is comforting, and the warmth of her embrace almost seems to shield me from everything else. I feel as though the world isn't there, and this warm embrace is all I've ever known. For only a moment, I don't feel any fear or pain or sadness. I'm truly happy.

"Sorry," I aplogize as soon as I can speak, "I sorta froze up there."

"Hey," Lily reassures me, letting go, "it's OK. Man you really do need to take a day huh?"

"I guess so," I reply.

"Well," Lily smiles, "Then let's go."

"Where to?" I ask.

"Oh," Lily smiles, "You'll see."

Lily and I head out to the parking lot, Lily stopping at an 1994, bright red, convertible, Ferrari.

"Yeah," She blushes, embarrassed, "It's flashy I know. It was my dad's old car. He bought it a year after I was born. I would've asked for something more simple, but... yeah. It's a great car though, so I just accept that it draws attention. Started to like it after a while."

"Wait," I ask, "then you're-"

"18 as of March," Lily smiles, "you?"

"I'll be 17 in July," I reply.

"Huh," Lily smiles, "you're cute for someone your age."

"What?" I ask.

"Oh nothing," Lily chuckles, "Let's go."

Lily jumps over the car's door and into the driver seat. I jump into the passenger seat, dropping my guard and acting however feels natural.

"Ready to go?" Lily asks.

"Totally," I smile.

With that, Lily starts the car and drives out of the parking lot. I look back at the school. Realising fully what I've done. I just ditched. I've never done anything like this before. I mean, I've thought about it, at least on days like this one where it doesn't matter, but I've always been scared. To scared to live. To stay home where I'm emotionally abused. Now though...

I turn to look at Lily, and the pleasant feeling grows. Maybe I should write some. I have a million ideas rushing through my head. This has made me really wanna write, but again, it's different from that voidful feeling...

"Write it away," the voice demands.

I take out my phone and prepare to write. However, I look back at Lily. The wind blows on us, cooling us in the warm Spring, almost Summer, heat. Her grin is one of youthful energy and hopefulness. Like she, no matter what, believes in humanity. That is something I don't really share with her, assuming it's true...

She smiles at me, her hair flowing elegantly in the wind and asks, "Feeling any better yet?"

I turn off my phone and reply, "Yeah. I'm feeling better already..."