I paced back and forth in my bedroom trying to get in the right frame of mind for what I was about to do. I had given myself numerous pep talks and rehearsed what I was going to say in front of the mirror but none of it was working. If it were up to me I would leave in the dead of night so my family wouldn't see me leaving but Willow had insisted on a proper goodbye.

I knew I had to get some things off my chest so I could move on without regrets but standing up to my family was no easy feat. Anytime I had spoken up in the past I had been shot down with ridicule and criticism and I didn't want to go through that again. I had worked so hard to get my confidence to where it was and I didn't want them taking that away from me. To make matters worse Willow had promised to be there with me as I talked to them but she hadn't arrived yet.

I texted her one more time demanding that she hurry before tossing my phone on top of the bed. I looked around my room and realized just how empty it was now that I'd packed everything. I hadn't left a single trace of me in the house. I'd even taken down all the family photos with me in them, the few that existed that is. I wanted it to seem like I never even existed in the Brown family. My parents had been wishing for so long to have just one son, Matthew and I was going to fulfill their wish.

I'd moved everything of mine to Willow's house during the day and all that remained were the two boxes on top of my bed. I was leaving my childhood home never to be back and instead of feeling bad, I felt relieved. It was time to turn a new page in my book and start my life afresh. I deserved that much.

"I'm here, don't call 911."Willow yelled barging into my room.

I turned to look at her and I immediately felt less tense but not completely. She looked out of breath as if she had run up the stairs.

"Where were you?"I asked walking fast towards her and pulling her into my arms.

She wrapped her hands around me laying her head on my chest so I buried my face in her hair inhaling her intoxicating shampoo. It calmed me, making me feel all better.

"Sorry had to drop off Charlie with Alex for their final sleep over before our move."She replied.

"I'm so glad you're here but I don't think I can do this, I'm too nervous."I said and pulled away to start pacing.

"You can do this. They are all downstairs having dinner. It's now or never and I'll be there with you the whole time."Willow consoled.

I looked at her hoping I could be as courageous as her.

"You've come so far Henry, don't give up now. This is the final step then you and I can move on with our lives."She encouraged.

I exhaled loudly and pulled her back into my arms. I needed to feel her so I could absorb some of her courage. Willow didn't fight me, just wrapped her hands around my waist and let me take all the time I needed. I was so lucky to have her.

"Okay let's go."I declared letting her go.

Willow went on her tiptoes and kissed me softly. I would have deepened the kiss but once we started making out we'd never stop and I needed to talk to my family before I changed my mind.

"You take the big one."Willow declared taking the small box on my bed.

"What makes you think that's lighter?"I asked with a laugh putting my phone in my pocket before grabbing the other box.

"Just a hunch."Willow answered with a shrug.

"Will you miss it?"Willow asked me as we stood at the door looking at my empty room.

"Nope."I replied without a hint of doubt in my tone.

With that we both left my room leaving all memories I'd ever had in there behind, the many bad and the few good. I didn't feel bad because thanks to the gorgeous girl next to me I had a lot to look forward to. The laughing tones of my parents and brother as they had dinner rang in my ears before we even saw them. If they were that okay when I was around then they would be elated when I left forever.

"I'm here."Willow assured as she stood next to me just outside the dining room.

Her words gave me all the courage that I needed to take that next step. Taking a deep breath I walked in with Willow by my side. All conversation stopped as three pairs of eyes turned to look at us.

"Oh hi Willow. Here to join us for dinner?"My mom asked ignoring my presence completely.

She was still mad at me for missing the graduation party she had hosted. I honestly couldn't care less if she was mad at me for that or any other stupid reason. She wouldn't be mad at me for long and even if she was I would be long gone and wouldn't even know.

"No thank you."Willow replied politely.

"What are the boxes for?"My dad asked pointing at the boxes we'd laid down on top of the table.

"They are mine."I replied shortly.

I knew that I needed to say more but everything I had planned to say had evaporated into thin air. It got really awkward as everyone started at us while I just stood there dumbfounded.

"Are you going to stand there all night?"My mom asked clearly irritated.

"No ma'am, Henry has something he'd like to say to all of you."Willow said speaking up on my behalf.

"Well speak up now, we don't have all night."My mom demanded.

I looked at Willow who was smiling at me encouragingly. I took a deep breath before finally turning to look at my family.

"I am moving out."I declared.

Once those words left my mouth I felt as if the burden I'd been carrying was lifted off my shoulders. Everyone stared at me shocked from the bomb I had just dropped on them. Willow just stood next to me the whole time supporting me wordlessly.

"What do you mean by you are moving out?"My mom demanded with a sharp tone.

"I mean that I am leaving this house and I'll never come back. I'm leaving Crescent too in a few days and I'll probably be back to visit but not you guys. Once I leave here tonight, I am done with this family once and for all."I declared.

"I forbid it."My mom yelled.

"You can't forbid me mother, I am eighteen and old enough to live my own life as I please."I replied calmly.

"Son sit down and let's talk about this."My dad requested looking very uncomfortable.

They had clearly not been expecting me to just up and leave but they never really paid attention to me anyway. I mean they hadn't even noticed that I'd taken down the huge family portrait that was over the fire place in the living room and replaced with another one where I'd edited myself out.

"There's nothing to talk about dad. My mind is made up."I said.

"Where will you even go? You don't have any money."My mom asked.

"We haven't decided where we're going yet and money is not an issue, I'm rich enough to support us comfortably enough for the next few years."I answered confidently.

"We? Us? You're leaving with her?"My mom shouted pointing an accusing finger at Willow.

Willow didn't even blink just glared back at my mom.

"Yes mother, Willow, Charlie and I are leaving together."I confirmed.

"First my best friend leaves because of her and now she's taking away my son. I rue the day you moved next door."My mom spat venomously.

"I'm not taking him from you, you chased him away all on your own. I just have him a safe place and loving arms to run into."Willow shot back making me smile.

She didn't need me to stand up for her, she was doing that well enough all on her own.

"You little twit. Hunter are you just going to sit there and let her talk to me like that."My mom demanded.

"Please be quiet Sophia, our son is leaving and we need to convince him to stay."My dad replied shutting her down.

My mom huffed in defeat and sat back on the seat, her hands crossed over her chest.

"You can't convince me to stay, my mind is already made up."I insisted.

"Stop and think about what you're doing Matthias. You've never been away from home."Matthew pleaded speaking up for the first time.

"It's Henry, not Matthias and I have been thinking about this ever since I tried running away when I was ten and got caught by the Sheriff. It was stupid then but I relaxed, bid my time and planned better so now that I'm leaving I'm ready and its without regrets."I answered.

"So you really are going to leave and never come back?"Matthew asked and I nodded.

"Well son if you've made up your mind then we can't stop you. You are eighteen and old enough to make your own decisions, I can only hope you find the happiness we were never able to give you out there."My dad spoke up making me smile.

I'd never been close with any of my family members but of all people my dad was the one I could at least get along with. It was mostly because he ignored me and just let my mom do all the dirty work for him.

"You're just going to let him go?"My mom asked and my dad just shrugged.

"Sure why not, he's clearly not happy here and he is old enough to live his own life."My dad replied.

My mom glared at all of us before picking up her glass and draining it.

"Okay fine, leave and never come back."She yelled.

"I will mother but first I have to say something to all of you. First of all to you dad. You weren't the best dad but you weren't the worst either. You bought me my first gaming set up and for that I will always be grateful to you. I'm sorry I couldn't be the son you wanted just like Matthew, that was never me. You are a great Mayor and this town is lucky to have you. I know you have hopes of being a member of Congress one day and I hope you can achieve that goal because you'll make a good Senator."I said addressing my dad.

He didn't say anything back and I didn't need him to. What I was saying was for my own good not theirs.

"Matthew you are my big brother but instead of loving and protecting me, you bullied and terrorized me. We were so close when we were kids but as soon as you realized I wasn't as cool as all the other kids you dumped me and joined them to make my life hell. I never did anything to you but you just never saw me as your twin even if we share the same face. To you I was just a punching bag and someone you could bully into doing your homework. I don't hate you because all that you did to me just made me stronger and smarter. I forgive you Matthew even if you don't deserve it."I addressed my twin who was looking at me with sadness and tears in his eyes.

He looked like he wanted to say something but he held himself back so I moved on to my mom.

"Mother."I called out but she just rolled her eyes and turned away from me.

I decided to continue nonetheless because I knew she could hear me.

"A mother is supposed to love both her son's equally but for some reason you always picked Matthew over me. I tried all my childhood to make you love me but no matter how many A's I got or how many science trophies I brought home it was never enough for you so I stopped. I'm not sorry I exist mother because I've come to realize that life is beautiful and that I had to suffer through you to meet the love of my life and get the life I deserve. You were never happy to have me as a son so I hope that with me gone, you can find true happiness with your family of three. I wish you nothing but the best mother and I forgive you too."I concluded feeling free at last.

All I'd been holding in was now out there and I could finally go and be happy like I deserved to be.

"I don't need your forgiveness so you can take it and shove it. I never wanted you as a son anyway, I didn't want either of you."My mother yelled pointing and me and Matthew taking us all by surprise.

"Sophia shut up and sit down."My father shouted clearly getting angry.

My dad looked like he wanted to tape my mother's mouth shut while she looked like she was about to explode which she definitely did. Her next words turned my life around and filled in a lot of gaps in my life.

"Oh no, I'm not keeping quiet anymore. How dare he stand there and accuse me of being a terrible mother when it was he that ruined my life. It's high time I tell you boys the truth. I never wanted kids and neither did your dad, we were both young and ambitious when we got married but we loved each other and the fact that neither of us wanted kids brought us even closer. Then one drunken night I forgot to take my pill so we had drunken sex and a month later I missed my period. When I found out I was pregnant I wanted to get rid of you but your dad talked me out of it saying that even though you maybe unplanned a kid wasn't so bad and would complete our family. It took a while but I eventually came around to idea of having a kid. Eight months later you two were born. I was not ready to be a mother of one let alone of two boys. I had only planned for one kid not two so I couldn't bring myself to love you no matter how much I tried. As you grew up Matthew became a mommy's boy while you just rebelled at every turn making me hate you even more. So don't stand there and judge me you ungrateful twit. You should be thanking me for not aborting both of you which is probably what I should have done."My mom heaved laying out the whole story for us.

After her outburst the whole room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. My mother's words explained a whole lot and even though it hurt to actually confirm that my mother hated me and wished I was never born, I was also relieved. All those years I thought I was the problem and in some way I was but it was actually never about me but about the fact that my parents who never wanted to be parents in the first place had drunk sex and conceived us. I had not been expecting such a revelation but I was glad I'd pissed my mother off bad enough for her to reveal a secret she had been keeping for eighteen years.

"You're right, thank you for not aborting me mother. Goodbye family, I wish you all the best. Baby let's go."I said picking up my box and walking out of that house.

"Bye suckers."Willow mocked making me chuckle as she followed after me.

"Are you okay?"Willow asked as we walked side by side towards her house.

"Honestly speaking I am okay. I mean I always knew that my mom hated me and she didn't want me as a son so as much as her words hurt they just confirmed what I always knew."I replied.

"I'm proud of you."Willow responded.

"What for?"

"When I met you, you were this quiet nerd who couldn't even stand up for himself but now you just had the most difficult conversation anyone can ever have with his family. You were brave and for that I am proud of you."She explained.

"Thank you but I wouldn't have been able to do it without you. You being in my life and by my side gave me the confidence I needed to face them."I expressed.

"Well then kudos to me too and for my good deed you owe me dinner."Willow grinned unlocking the house so we could get in.

"I'll take you anywhere you want."I grinned.

"Perfect."Willow smiled as we walked into the house.

I was happy even after finding out I was nearly aborted and it was all thanks to Willow. With her by my side I would overcome anything. She gave me the courage I needed to be unapologetically me.