Them

She came to me when I was alone.

I'm not even sure what I did wrong. My father was always reprimanding me for all sorts of things. Normal things. Things I'd done before without punishment. I tried so hard to understand. The rules didn't make much sense.

But whenever I slipped up, I was locked away, left to wallow in shame and guilt. There was nothing I hated more.

When she came, everything changed.

No longer was I always alone. Even in a crowd, I'd always been alone. But she'd follow me around wherever she could, and we'd talk, and we'd enjoy each other's company.

It made it lonelier without her. But I was seldom without her.

I didn't dread my punishment anymore, though I still acted as if I did. I was an excellent actor by now.

Whenever I was locked in my room, she'd come in my window, and we'd talk. We were always together, whenever we could be.

Until my parents found her.

They were so angry.

They said we weren't allowed to spend time together.

They threatened to have her killed.

So we ran.