I shook as I tried to process what was happening. How the actual fuck is this happening? Why? There’s no way dads actually here and Leos dead, right? So what the fuck is going on.

Maybe this is a nightmare. Maybe I got tired while moving the rubble and fell asleep. Yeah, that has to be whats happening. I just need to.. I pinched myself, or well I attempted to pinch myself and felt a sudden wave of pain.

“Fuck!” I cried out. Does that prove this is or isn’t a nightmare? Why did it hurt so much?

“Come on.” My father sighed. “It doesn’t hurt that much, I only put the base amplifiers on.”

“Amplifiers? What are you talking about?” I kept my eyes on him.

“Pain amplifiers.” Leo’s voice was hostile, as if he was angry at me for something. “Surely you could’ve worked that out.” He added snidely.

Whats going on? It’s definitely them. Why?

“Whats a pain amplifier? Why are you mad at me?” I asked.

“Because it’s all your fault! If you hadn’t been there that day, or if you had learnt to stay out of things then maybe I wouldn’t be dead right now!” Tears were filling his eyes.

Oh. So that really is how he thought of me. That means nobody was lying, I’m just a dumb useless kid.

“See? You don’t even have anything to say? You fucking psychopath!” Leo continued yelling, tears falling down his cheeks like raindrops on a car window.

I slammed my eyes shut in a desperate attempt to break the fall of the tears. “I’m sorry, okay?! I’m so fucking sorry. I know it’s all my fault! I think about it all the time.. Just why are you always there?!” I had no idea what was going on around me, I could just feel myself shaking, salty tears dripping from my eyes. “Just leave me alone!”

“Thats what I thought about you all the time and it never worked..” Leo sighed.

Why me? How is Leo here? Why am I so useless? The tears continued to fall.

“See, you shouldn’t even be crying right now. You’re just trying to manipulate me.”

“I am?” I croaked.

“Yes.” His voice was hostile.

“Oh.” I’m trying to manipulate him? “Okay.” Well I guess he’s probably right.

“Why don’t we go home?” My father asked.

“Okay.” I agreed.

Leo held my hand and started whispering, I didn’t have long to be confused before things went dark.