Runaway

I just didn't understand it. How could you do this? I thought you were my friend, we all thought that.

So how could you betray us like that? Like we were nothing to you?

Maybe we really were nothing. I lifted the almost-empty bottle to my lips and drained it. The alcohol burned its way down my throat, but I welcomed the burning.

The glass shattered against the wall and the pieces fell down like rain to settle on a glittering pile of liquor-stained glass.

Graffiti decorations
Under the sky of dust
A constant wave of tension
On top of broken trust
The lessons that you taught me
I learned were never true

I pushed myself out of the chair and stumbled over to the closet. Inside, I rummaged around until I found what I was looking for.

The box of photographs you didn't known I'd kept.

It was heavy; I hadn't even realized how many photos I have of all of us. I dumped the contents out in front of the fire and sat down in the middle of them.

A circle of memories surrounded me.

Now I find myself in question
They point the finger at me again
Guilty by association
You point the finger at me again

I picked up the first one that caught my attention. I was of the two of you on the train that first day, you already knew each other but you didn't hesitate to include me.

I remember the exact moment I first saw you. You were both running away from the prefect's car at the front of the train. It didn't take long to figure out why; the explosion wasn't exactly a subtle hint.

You were laughing maniacally, both of you were. I remember thinking you two were just dumb troublemakers, the kind of people I should stay away from.

I learned to love you though. I wasn't all that hard, really. You were the first of the group to truly accept me for what I was. You were the one who came up with a way to help me through it. And for that, I suppose, I owe you.

But it's your fault that I'm hiding like this. All those people out there think I'm just as bad as you are.

I want to run away
Never say goodbye

I picked up another photo, one of all of us during Christmas. You'd given me a new cloak, since my old had accidentally been torn into a pile of shredded fabric one night.

I still have that cloak, I used to wear it every day.

My unsteady feet carried me into my bedroom, where I found the cloak and a few other things that reminded me of you. I dumped them in the middle of the circle.

I want to know the truth
Instead of wondering why
I want to know the answers
No more lies

I'm not going to dwell on it anymore.

I mean it this time. I'm done thinking about you.

I want to shut the door
And open up my mind

And to prove it, I'm going to burn this circle of memories.

I walked shakily to the open cupboard in my dingy kitchen.

There was only one bottle left, but it was all I needed. I looked at the label and almost laughed. You'd given this to me too, on my last birthday.

It seemed oddly fitting, burning your memory with a gift from you. Poetic justice.

I unscrewed the lid and poured the contents on the photographs. I then grabbed my wand from the floor where it had fallen.

"Incendio." I whispered in a shaky voice.

I never knew memories took so long to burn.

Paper bags and angry voices
Under a sky of dust
Another wave of tension
Has more than filled me up

Eventually, all of the smiling faces vanished. Replaced by small mounds of ash.

With another wave of my wand and another whispered spell, you were gone; I had nothing more to remember you by.

I fell back into the chair and looked down at my hands. One held a wand and the other...

The other held a photograph.

All my talk of taking action
Those words were never true

I looked down at your laughing face as you ripped open a brightly wrapped present. We all looked so happy.

And now we're all gone. Not one of the smiling people from that cold Christmas morning still exists. And it's your fault.

I'm going to run away, and never say goodbye

A splash of liquid fell onto the glossy surface.

This wasn't the first time I'd cried, and I knew it wouldn't be the last. Many more tears would come and go. And I'd still be here alone.

I stood, the photograph still clutched tightly in my hand, and walked back to my room.

The room smelled faintly of whiskey and tears. I hate that smell, it reminds me of you, and I don't know why.

I'm going to run away and never wonder why

Exhausted, I fell to the bed.

That night, I dreamed of you. I wish you were here.

I'm going to run away and open up my mind

The real you, not this traitor running around in your skin, but YOU.

My brother.