Daniel's P.O.V.

They say you learn to build walls up and not get hurt time after time, even when you expect it. They say it gets better. But it doesn't. You fuck up here and you fuck up there but it seems as though the more you fuck up, the harder it is to heal.

I did this to myself, I was selfish. I decided that I would do this for my dad and Joey's mom just so I didn't get hurt. Obviously, Joey and I were already dating so I just lied so they would let us be. But Joey found out about the whole damn thing. He hates everything I am, everything I was, and everything I will be. And now, I can't take it back.

"We're through," Joey says walking over to his closet to grab clothes. I drop to my knees and begin to sob as I watch him walk away. My body shakes and my mind blurs and all I can do is feel the salted liquid rush down my cheeks.

They don't like to admit it, but the most pain anyone can have is pain they cause someone else. I saw the hurt in Joey's eyes when everything became clear to him. I know I crushed him. And I did it all because I wanted to be selfish.

My dad and Mrs. Graceffa walk in to me on the bed in tears and look at me with a very confused look.
"He dumped me. He found out about the plan," I whisper to them. My dad gets a gleam in his eyes and a smirk begins to spread all across his face.
"So, you couldn't hold up your end of the deal. I'm not going to hold up mine," my dad says making his way towards me, fire in his eyes.

He grabs me off the bed and throws me to the wall and I slam against it, hard. I hear my neck crack a little as I try to stay strong. My dad comes over to me and wraps his fingers around my neck. He then begins to squeeze as hard as he can, causing my to claw at his hand to try and get some air, but it's no use. I look over to Mrs. Graceffa and see the fear in her eyes, but she doesn't come over to help me. She just stands still, frozen as she begins to realize my reality as well.

"You're the worst son anyone could ask for. And I hope you never find happiness," my dad says letting go of my throat and walking out of the room with Mrs. Graceffa. I crash to the ground and lay there in agony, gasping trying to fill my lungs again.

I crawl over to the mirror that is hanging on Joey's door and glance at the marks on my neck. I see a clear hand bruise is becoming more and more noticeable as the minutes pass. I bring my hand up to touch the area and wince as the pain shoots through my body. But I deserve every ounce of pain I will receive for what I did to Joey. I deserve every ounce of pain, sadness, depression, and everything else that is about to be sent my way.

I look myself in the eyes through the mirror and don't see who I once was. I see a monster. A pathetic, horrible monster who just broke the heart of the boy he is madly in love with.