joe_shane

To spend years building a house, you learn to fill it with the things you can't find a place for
Unaware it stacked up, over time the walls you painted begin to peel, the carpet begins to mat, and it grows with a clutter you thought you didn't mind, but no you couldn't mind that, where else would you put it.
All your doors are closed, some locked, and some filled.

And soon your locked inside.

How long does it take to know you can't stay inside there, you can't live amongst a past your not a part of anymore
A family that isn't there anymore, how long does it take to know you can't leave.
It's then you can panic, maybe nobody will notice, maybe nobody will see if you loose yourself in the home you built.

But is it the same home if you destroy it.
Burn it from the inside, flip the tables, rip up the carpet and destroy your house.
Leave your house.
Or burn down with it, for if a house is divided by itself, it will not be able to stand.

14MNDR6

Percy pushed the door open with a subtle shake, the room reeked of urine and nicotine. It was only then that Percy hit the realization of Ronin's situation, like a brick wall it blocked him, except this wall was alone it stood separate, lacking a needed support, for Percy could simply walk around it.

His eyes met Ronin; he sat on the floor surrounded by the contents of the trash bin. His eyes were trapped, contained; he didn't look up, not even when Percy met at his side. His mouth seemed to be held shut in a lock, while his trembling hands hid from Percy.

For Ronin knew he was there, he was always there, somehow, someway, Percy was there.

Ronin's head began to rage in many words, a disappointed rage; even the worst parts of him knew what he did was wrong. For his tongue was coated in ash, he feared to move; he thought maybe Percy would leave if he did so as if he broke what plan he had. Ronin's throat grew a sharp tickle as he tried to clear it subtly, a quick air flew through his nose with each fast breath.

It soon became a cough, a rough, hard cough, that in the room, Percy's eyebrows bowed quickly. He had stopped talking, for even he knew Ronin wasn't listening. Ronin felt his stomach jump as it had tried to crawl out his throat, he began to gag, wheezing when he realized he couldn't steady his breathing anymore. The room quickly grew loud as Ronin practically screamed in his desperate attempts to cough it out.

Percy held no hesitation. Ronin hadn't answered when Percy asked if he was ok, he knew he wouldn't. Percy placed a hand on Ronin's back before his eyes blared open, suddenly he began to claw Ronin's mouth open.

His hand almost reaching down his throat he swept the ash that lay in his mouth, soon watching as it fell with Ronin's spit. Percy leaped from the ground turning the faucet on. He could only hear Ronin gagging in between his horridly dry coughing. He grabbed Ronin's coat helping him up quickly. He felt Ronin's hand grip his sweater before pushing himself to the sink, tilting his head in desperation.

Percy met him at the sink, frantically patting his back. Ronin's face was almost purple, and his blue veins had crawled up his neck.

He turned the water off with a hard grip, gasping for the air he had just gained back. Percy's voice had tried to stay calm; Ronin could tell, for even his warmth seemed to lay at room temperature.

For it had soon shifted as Percy spoke his concerns quickly, "I'm ok" Ronin said, his voice was breathy and dry.

"Are you sure?" Percy responded, leaning over the counter with him. Ronin looked at him, and suddenly he felt his insides drop. "y-yeah I'm fine" his voice began to shake, but before Percy could ask again Ronin broke down in a cold shake, his eyes soon fell with the water that escaped them. His eyebrows held in a tight fear above his eyes. Percy couldn't understand the words Ronin had said.

It had only become clear to him when he was wrapped in Ronin's trembling arms, for that was the clearest Ronin had ever spoken.

chapter 12