I woke up

to the sound of my parents

yelling and screaming

at each other.

I couldn't tell 

what they were fighting about,

but the walls were thin

in the stupid, small apartment

and covering my ears 

with a pillow

wasn't working. 

I hated the sound

of them fighting

and I just wanted them 

to stop

stop

please

shut

up...

They weren't stopping

and I couldn't take it anymore

so I put in ear buds

and blasted music

while pulling on leggings

and a sweatshirt.

I put on my shoes

and climbed 

onto the fire escape,

climbing down

trying to drown out

my parents screaming

and yelling.

Even with the ear buds

I could hear them.

As soon my feet 

touched the pavement

I took off running 

even though 

it was 2 in the morning

and it probably wasn't smart

to go off

by myself.

I ran

and ran

and ran

until I couldn't 

see the apartment anymore

until the whole complex

was far

far

far

away

and I was lost.

I stopped running

for a moment

to catch my breath.

Where was I?

Wherever I was

it wasn't the good part of town.

My heart started beating faster

and faster

and faster

and I felt myself

getting dizzy

"No.. no... 

not now" 

I said to myself

because I couldn't have 

a panic attack

not now

not when anyone

could come after me

from the shadows

this 

was bad

and I couldn't breathe

"breathe

Delilah"

I told myself

but I couldn't

and I was sinking

onto my knees

why now?

My head was pounding

and the world was spinning

and I couldn't hear my music

anymore

just buzzing

and ringing..

I was on the ground

I could feel the hard pavement.

I curled into a ball

because what else could I do?

My head wouldn't stop pounding

and I still 

couldn't

breathe

and

why 

wasn't 

I 

breathing?

I couldn't see anything

anymore

and I felt myself

slipping away

away

away...

* * *

I opened my eyes

to find myself 

still lying on the sidewalk

the sun still hiding 

behind the horizon.

I sat up,

looking around

hoping no one was watching

only to find a guy

leaning against a building

right in front of me.

A hood covered his face

but I could tell his hair

was long and blonde

because it was hanging in his face.

I started breathing more quickly

because it was like he was waiting 

for me to wake up

and I didn't know him

which made me more

and more

and more

nervous..

"Who are you?"

I asked finally,

and he looked up

at me

with a piercing gaze.

He didn't say anything,

and instead pushed off the wall

and walked towards me.

I tried to back away,

but he was walking

and I was still on the ground.

But when he was close

he held out his hand 

for me to take

so he could pull me up.

I hesitated 

then put my hand in his.

He pulled me up off the ground

and I found myself

face to face

with him.

His eyes were a pretty blue

even with the bruise 

around one of them,

and I held my breath,

but this time

on purpose.

"Thanks"

I whispered,

and then 

he stepped back

and pulled out 

a pack of cigarettes,

offering me one.

I took one

unsure of what to do

because it was so quiet

and he had yet to speak.

For a moment,

I wondered if he was like Daiha

if he was mute

if he was dealing with things

I could never understand,

but then

he lit his cigarette 

then mine

and I sucked in the smoke

even though I knew it wouldn't help,

and then he spoke...

"Jax"

then he turned around

and walked away

questions boiling inside my head.

His name was Jax...

why did he help me?

was he protecting me from something?

how did he get that bruise?

I turned to run after him

to ask him something

anything

to find out more about him,

but when I looked

he was gone, 

and I wasn't sure 

where he had went.

so instead

I started walking

trying to figure out

how to get back home

somehow,

all the while

my mind filled with pictures

of Jax.