“Stay strong like you always have please.”

“ I must not lose you too ” some one said

 “ I'm sorry, I feel so tired. ” I said and everything went black as I heard his distant cries echo.

“ Who was that I? ” I asked.

My eyes flickered open and I was in....a hospital room? I jolted up to find a guy with blonde hair sleeping in a chair, his body hunched over and his head on my lap.

“ Who...? ”

“ Ugh... ” my head ached when I tried to remember. Then the guy woke up. His blue eyes were dull, but when he saw me, it filled with life as he said,“ Retri?”

That was my name but how does he know that. My head hurts.

“ Who are you? ”

“ How do you know my name?” I asked as I scooted backwards away from him.

“Don't you remember me?” he asked.

Suddenly a scene flashed in my head.

The guy was there and ...me? I had long black hair and purple eyes and wore a black long sleeve shirt and denim jeans different from what I wore at the hospital which was a long dress like piece of clothing.

“ Did I know him? ” I thought confused.

Then I had a flashback.

“Are you ok?” he asked as his hair that blocked his eyes seem to reveal a worried expression.

I pushed him away saying, “ I'm fine ” as I turned away from him.

I was unable to look him in the eye cause I knew if I did, I would see that look on his face again.

“ I have lied to him once more ” I thought to myself as I walked away knowing that I won't be able to see him again. I entered the house and looked for Selina, my mother that she never liked me. Her striking aura that always fills the room wasn't there neither was her. Then the door swinged open and Arthritis was standing right there.

“ Get out of here, Mother will be vexed if she finds you here ” I said as I pushed him out the door back out into the gallery.

“ I know you want to be free of her grasp and is only staying because of me so let's go and run away together ” he said extending his hand towards me.

I hesitated before reaching out for his hand.

“ So my son conspires against me now too.”

“You know you will be punished for influencing my son to do this ” an angry and almost heart broken voice came from behind me.

I turned around quickly and saw that it was Mother. I shuddered by the thought of the wip that had striked my body and made me to the person I am and then thought of Arthritis.

“ I must not bring him into this. ”

“He have nothing to do with this mother, leave him out of this please” I begged.

“If you come with me and forgot about what he said I shall.” She said as looked at me.

“This was the last chance she was giving me to protect Arthritis by leaving him so I must ” I thought.

“What kind of mother are you to do this to your own child?You....“Stop!” I yelled stopping him from continuing on his speech.

I walked to him and said, “ I'm sorry I couldn't get to explore the world with you.”

“I broke our promise and I must apologize for that.”

“I must go now” I said as I picked up my baggage.

“ At least know I know that Arthritis will be safe” I thought.

“ No!”

“I will not let you be taken by that vile woman!”

“Strange you are to love but that will be no more for you will be taken away from the one that holds no love for you by the one who does" he said making Mother angry.

She charged for him raising her umbrella to strike at him.

“ I must protect him ” I thought as I jumped in front of Arthritis getting hit in my stomach and I hit my head on the ground on impact.

“ My child, I didn't mean to hit you.”

“You know that right? ” She asked as Arthritis held me and tried to stop the bleeding.

“ I put you through so much trouble. ”

“Do you regret meeting me ” I asked Arthritis as I reached for his face.

“ I never regretted meeting you, not even once. ” He said rubbing his face on my hand.

“Stay strong like you always have, please. I must not lose you too.” He said sadly still gripping my hand

“I am sorry. I feel so tired. I am just taking a nap.” I said

The scene stopped as I said, “ A .... Arthritis? ”

“ Yes. ”

“Do you remember me?” he asked worried.

“ I ..... I do not now. ”

“I remember that my mother was trying to take me away and that you were there but I don't remember anything else. " I said.

I got up but then I stumbled and Athritis caught me.

“ Am I in a hospital?” I asked

“ Yes.”

Get some rest though and questions later" He said lifting me up and laying me on the bed.

“Ah.... Thank you” I said falling asleep a little while after..

Arthritis....I remember him now. He was one of my childhood friends. His mother died when he was young and his father was always busy. Then I thought of my mother, the wip and the bathtub. I shivered as I remembered my mother's harsh beatings and her hand which shoved my head under water in the bathtub. Thoughts flooded my mind. I can't stand it. I opened my eyes again to see Arthritis holding me looking worried.

“ What happened to my mother after I fell unconscious?”

“Are you ok?”

“She didn't injure you, did she? ” I asked patting his clothes.

“ Ugh...” he grunted.

“ You are injured. ”

“Did she escape? ”

“What if she knows where we are?”

“I must protect you” I said freaking out.

Arthritis pulled me close and kissed me.

“ What?” I thought confused before pushing him away and looking at him.