• She walked to a vacant area, were only a few shrubs and bushes were present. The girl looked around to make sure no one had followed her. No one was there. She sighed, drawing in many heavy breaths. She knelt to the ground, as rain poured around her. Her face was lifted towards the sky and the rain kissed it. Her orange streaked hair was soaked. Then she brought it back and placed it on her knees. The girl's hands scratched her legs, until they bleed, but she didn't notice. The world's problems carried a burden on her shoulders and all she could do was scream, loud. She screamed until her throat was raw and ragged. Her face was brought back to her knees and she tasted blood and salt in her mouth.
    But she wasn't done, things still weighed down on her. The girl let out another scream and kept it going no matter how much her throat hurt. This time, her arms were thrown out to her sides, with fists clenched, and blazes of fire escaped from them.
    It burned the bushes and shrubs, despite the fact that it was raining. And after she was done, she felt like her heart leaked everything out. That nothing could fill the emptiness inside her.
    'I'm not alone,' she said. 'I have a God that is always with me.'
    The girl walked back to her town, to her house. And as she opened the door to her home, her father greeted her with a smile and a kiss on the forehead.
    'Good to have you home sweetheart,' he said. He faced her and looked at her clothes. 'Aren't you cold?'
    The girl shook her head. She wore no jacket just a short sleeve shirt and a pair of trousers.
    His eyes rested on her torn jeans and bloody legs. 'What happened?'
    The girl's mouth didn't move for a second, then her lips parted. 'I was angry Father, and I started screaming again.' Her voice came out raspy and quiet from all the abuse she had caused it.
    He nodded then grabbed a nearby towel and draped it over her body. 'You should rest,' he said. 'It's late and you have a long day ahead of you tomorrow.'
    The girl walked to her room, silently. Could the day have gone any better, she thought. I don't want to be a burden to my parents. She rested her head on her pillow.
    The girl's room was painted a dingy gray, her favorite color. Her eyes closed for a spell until she heard a knock on the outside of her door.
    'May I come in?' someone asked.
    'Yes.'
    The figure stepped through, her 16 year old brother, Chauncey, with his gray eyes and black hair. He was dressed in black trousers and a white tee. He sat on the edge of her bed.
    The girl didn't respond.
    Chauncey looked at his sister's legs. At the blood.
    'You've been angry again.' It was a statement.
    The girl was silent.
    'Valerie,' his voice was soft.
    Tears formed in Valerie's eyes, as she looked at him and wept. She cradled in his arms and he rocked her back and forth, whispering in her ear, saying everything will be alright.
    Valerie just wept and looked into his face, his soft face with his soft eyes. She could kiss him if she wanted to, but he was her brother not a friend, and the thought died right then and there.
    'Why do you have me here?' Valerie asked. 'Why am I here?'
    'You're here because I love you, and Father loves you,' Chauncey said. 'No one is going to take that away from you.'
    'But I'm nothing but a burden to you two.'
    'You're not a burden. Don't say that,' Chauncey said, he voice rose slightly. 'I love you.'
    'Do you really?' Valerie asked again.
    Chauncey held her away, her arms gripped by his strong hands. Then he leaned into her and kissed Valerie lightly on the lips. The kiss was short and sweet and when he let go, Chauncey embraced Valerie in a hug. 'Does that answer your question?'
    Valerie was silent. Tears of joy sprung into her eyes.
    'No more crying,' Chauncey said, holding up her face and his hand. 'Now you need your rest.'
    He laid Valerie's head down gently on the pillow, then kissed her forehead before turning out the lights and closing the door behind him.