Alex had no intention of ever crawling through your window — considering he was nearly twice your age and you were the daughter of his best friend — but at midnight he found himself walking down the street from his house to yours and climbing his way up to your room on the second story.

It started at dinner when you slipped up and mentioned something your parents don’t agree on. And with their already failing marriage, it broke out into an argument that sent you to your room. Around 9:30 is when the shouting started, echoing from the kitchen all the way up to your room. It was nothing you hadn’t heard before but something about this time seemed… worse.

Then around 11, the shouting seemed to be getting louder and closer. Next thing you knew, you heard doors slamming coming right from your parents’ bedroom and the shouting continued. Then the shouting seemed to move throughout the house and there was only one thing clear: Your mom was trying to pack up and leave.

In your daze of tears and undeniable amounts of fear, you fumbled for your phone and dialed the first number you saw… which was Alex, your neighbour and your dad’s best friend. The second Alex heard your tears through the phone, he was already heading out the door and to your house. Which is how he found himself knocking at your window, waiting for you to let him in.