I wake up tired and grumpy like normal, made worse by the news that my parents are going on their second honeymoon, leaving me and Ruby alone for two weeks. "You're old enough to take care of yourselves, it'll be a great way to prove you're independent. Just don't set the house on fire while we're gone."

"I'd say it's less likely to set on fire now." Thankfully my parents didn't hear my remark but knowing that I'm right, Ruby giggles next to me.

My parents have already been married once, but they have remarried after their divorce a few months ago. My dad comes home drunk most nights and my mum spends all the money she makes within hours of having it, like a toddler in a sweet shop. I don't trust them not to get arrested while they're gone, considering how much they drink and how many bar fights they've started since we've been alive, so I make a mental note to call them regularly.

Ruby plans to have her friends over to 'party', also known as watching movies and eating pizza. She invited me to join her once, but her friends aren't the type of people who I like being around, so I've decided to stay in my room and wander to the kitchen every now and then when I get hungry, just like a normal weekend.

"This is gonna be a long two weeks," I complain under my breath as to not start another petty argument. I know that moaning about it isn't going to bring them back, so I just have to find things to entertain myself with. I watch my parents leave after hugging us goodbye, wait for a few minutes then pull my boots on. I grab my wallet and put my bag on, letting Ruby know that I'm leaving by yelling a quick "See ya'," upstairs.

I reach the park and breathe in the fresh air, the nostalgic smell of freshly cut grass filling my nose. I run to my favourite oak tree near the lake and climb up, overwhelmed by the beautiful view. I've been climbing it for years now, so getting up and down isn't a problem. I sit there for at least half an hour, my back resting against the tree trunk. I wish my life could always be like this, staring at the sun glistening on the surface of the lake. But this will all change when I leave school. I'll be too busy with going to university or finding a job to spend time in the park, it'll become more of a treat than a routine.

I was too enchanted by my surroundings to realise that I'm starving. I was just so desperate to leave the house this morning that I forgot to have breakfast. I jump down from the tree and jog over to the small café near the park's entrance, smiling sweetly at the old lady behind the counter.

"What would you like dear?" She asks, returning the smile.

"A chicken burger, please. And some curly fries."

"Any drinks?"

"No thanks."

"That'll be £2.50 please, take a seat and one of the waiters will bring it to you when it's ready."

"Thank you." I pass her my money and take a seat at a table by the wall. The burger arrives a lot faster than I expected and I practically throw it at my face. As soon as I finish it, I grab my bag and start to head home. There's a chance that Ruby might start worrying if I'm gone for too long.

When I get back I find Ruby sprawled on the sofa watching a sitcom that I've never heard of, eating a bag of tangy cheese Doritos, her favourite. I sit down next to her, even though I've never watched the programme she's watching and reach into the bag, ignoring the words of abuse she throws at me.

We don't do a lot that evening, we argue and watching movie after movie until past midnight. I manage to drag myself into bed after falling asleep on the sofa a few times, ready for the sensation of a soft mattress and a warm duvet.

I wake up the next morning at 6:00 am from a scratching noise outside the door. Obviously curious, I roll out of bed to see what it is. I quietly sneak downstairs, trying not to wake Ruby if she's managed to stay asleep and pull open the blinds. I grab my keys from the kitchen counter, ready to tell whoever is messing around to go away.

But what I see isn't some kids messing around like I expected, instead, there's a man standing outside my door with a large chunk of his face missing, streams of blood pouring down his body.

"Oh my god."