~Phil~
-----

I could hear them screaming even from up here. I was hiding in the attic while they were most likely in the basement.
"Philip! Get your ass down here right now or I'll fucking kill you!"
That was Dad.
"Listen to your father!"
And that was Mom. She was the one who always did what Dad said.

Not wanting to sit and wait for them to do the worst they've ever done to me, I made my way down from the attic. As I did so, I thought about my older brother Martyn. He was a few years older than me and was currently off at college in another state. After he left, my parents started abusing me. Their perfect son was gone while their countlessly flawed son remained.

"There you are you piece of shit!" My father cried, grabbing me by the shirt. He lifted me off of the ground while I held back tears. I never cried while my parents abused me and I wasn't going to start today. "I've got a different punishment for you tonight."
I remained silent as he dropped me on the ground, grabbed ahold of my arm, and dragged me out to the garage. He opened the door that led to the backyard and kicked me out there.
"You're staying out here until the morning!" Dad screamed. He slammed the door and I heard him lock the door.

The bitter cold wind and me being in the snow caused my teeth to start chattering like crazy. The fact that I was in shorts and a T-shirt didn't help either (My parents couldn't be bothered to get me any winter clothes because they hate me.) And, even worse, I was barefoot.
A moment later, it occurred to me that I would die alone and of hypothermia. Tears demanded to start falling down my cold face because those two things are the things that I was afraid of dying of, but there was no way that I would allow myself to cry.
If only they loved me.

*****

I don't know how long I had been out in that bitter cold but eventually, I began to start lose feeling in my entire body. I knew that I had one last chance and I decided to take it. I forced myself to stand up, letting out a squeal of pain in the process. I let out another cry in pain as I forced myself to walk to the front yard. I prayed to a God that I didn't even believe in that someone, anyone would help me.

When I reached the front yard, I saw that one of my neighbors had their lights on. The only problem was that their blinds were closed.
"P-p-p-p-p-please h-h-h-h-help m-m-m-m-me." I tried to call but I knew that I was going to have to walk over and knock on the door. So that's what I did. If I died, at least I died trying to live.

"Oh my goodness Philip!" The neighbor with the light on happened to be an old woman. She was in her mid seventies but looked like she was in her forties because she took really good care of herself. "You look like you're about to freeze to death! Come inside right away!"
She moved out of the way and I stepped in, immediately collapsing on the floor.
"You poor thing!" She closed the door and I was finally out of that damn cold. "What were you doing outside anyway? And why on earth are you wearing shorts and a T-shirt? And you're even barefoot!"
I tried to speak. I really did. I really tried to let the confession about the years of abuse that my parents have inflicted upon me spill out but I ended up nearly crying instead.
"Oh darling," She ran her fingers through my hair. "You don't have to tell me then. Come and I'll get you some hot chocolate and a blanket. I'll even let you sit by the fire."
She helped me up but I immediately fell over again because I didn't have any feeling in my legs.
"I'll help you." She somehow managed to scoop me up in her arms despite me being six foot two and her being probably around five foot two or so. Some woman she is.

*****

I soon found myself wrapped up in a blanket and drinking hot chocolate by the fire. For the most part, I was back to normal. But my legs... I still couldn't feel them.
"How are you doing?" The old woman asked me, sitting down next to me.
"Pretty good." I smiled. "And it's all thanks to you. I'm forever indebted you. You saved my life."
"There's no need to thank me sweetie." She smiled back. Even her smile made her look younger than she really was. "I did what any good person would do."
I nodded. I decided to tell her about my leg situation. "Is it concerning that I still can't feel my legs?"
Her smile immediately turned into a frown. She took my hot chocolate from me and placed it on a nearby small table where a lamp was. She picked me up once more and began heading out of the living room.
"What's going on?" I asked since she was going at quite the fast pace.
"Darling, we need to get you to the hospital right away!" She responded. She quickly opened the door that led to her garage and hurriedly placed me in the passenger seat. Her hands were shaking as she buckled in my seat belt and she even slammed the door. She was in the driver's seat only a few moments later. She quickly started the car and opened the garage door using an opener that she had in a cup holder.
"Can't this damn thing open up any faster?" She muttered. Once it was open all the way, she began backing out and once she put the car in drive, she took off. I was actually scared at how fast she was driving.

*****

"Please help him!" The woman cried once we were inside the hospital. "He can't feel his legs!"
Apparently that sent everyone in a frenzy because a moment later, doctors and nurses quickly placed me on a wheelchair and began trying to find the nearest room. Once they did, they placed me on the examination table.
"I think it's too late doctor." A nurse murmured.
It was when I heard this when I looked down at my legs for the first time. They were an almost black color and I almost threw up when I saw them.
"He doesn't appear to have frostbite anywhere else." The doctor stated while looking me over. He then looked me dead in his eyes. "I'm very sorry to say this but you were out in the cold so long and your frostbite is so bad that we'll have to amputate both of your legs."
You think I would've broke down crying at that moment. But I didn't. I always told myself that there was no crying until the end. And this sure as hell wasn't the end.
My only response was a nod.
"Very well." The doctor nodded. "We'll get you a room and get you prepared for your surgery."
They placed me back in the wheelchair and the entire time, I couldn't stop looking at my legs. They just looked so unnatural.

*****

The full impact of the loss of my legs didn't truly hit me until after the surgery and after the medication that the doctors gave me for the surgery wore off. All that remained of my legs were two little stumps, the only place where hypothermia didn't strike.

"Hello darling." The old woman who had saved my life came into my room the next morning. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm okay I suppose." I shrugged. I looked her dead in the eyes. "I want to thank you for everything that you did for me last night. I really owe you my life ma'am."
She laughed. "Please, call me Brenda." Silence fell upon us before she spoke again. "Where are your parents? I would think that they would be here right now."
I felt the urge to cry once more but I held back.
No crying until the end Phil.
"I've been hearing a lot of yelling coming from your house." Brenda ran her fingers through my hair. "Is everything okay?"
All I could do is shake my head.
"You don't have to tell me what's wrong if you don't feel comfortable." She reassured me. "But I'll take you home as soon as they release you."
I frantically shook my head.
"Okay." She smiled. "You can stay with me for as long as you need."
"Thank you so much." I smiled back and even hugged her.
"You're very welcome Philip."
"Please, call me Phil."