"Charlie," was all he said. I couldn't move, I couldn't think, I couldn't believe what I was looking at. My mind went blank, everything went black. This was Matty, he wouldn't do this to me. None of what I was looking at made any sense. He loved me. Matty loved me. This couldn't be true. But it was true, there he was, fucking that ridiculously long legged Chelsea girl. I felt sick. I turned and bumped into George, he looked at me like someone had just died, with such sympathy in his eyes. I pushed him out of the way and ran, ran out of the apartment and straight out the door. I heard Matty call my name, but I ignored him. I got into my car as fast as I could, Matty ran up to the car and banged on the window, he had on just his jeans that weren't even done up,
"Charlie wait please," I ignored him and started the engine. He ran in front of the car and leaned on the car bonnet,
"Charlie don't go, please I can explain," I got out of my car and walked over to him and I slapped him. I had only ever slapped one person before and that was Finn, I never ever thought I would have to slap anyone ever again, I thought I would make better decisions, but evidently I hadn't because I slapped him. Hard. Hard enough to leave a mark on his already red cheek,
"Fuck you," I got back into my car and Matty moved out of my way holding his cheek. I drove off and I just kept driving, and then that's when it happened. A tear rolled down my cheek and then another and another until I could barely see. Blinded by the tears that hadn't fallen since Tommy died. I felt like I couldn't breathe, my throat was closing in and my heart was breaking. I drove to the beach because that is the only place I knew of that made me feel safe. I got out of my car and sat on the beach. I placed my hands in the sand and picked up the grains and let them fall through my fingers. The tears were endless, they came and kept coming. I cried because the wound that I thought was healing has once again opened, I cried because my first sign of happiness in such a long time had just been taken away in a split second. I cried because my heart was once again broken. I wanted my brother, I needed my brother. I placed my head in my hands and I let myself go. I screamed at the world at how unfair life was, I shouted and pleaded for my brother back, I cried out how much pain I was in, but no one answered me, no one ever did. And then suddenly I felt arms around me. No words, just arms. I leaned into these arms and let them hug me.
"Tommy," I whispered. I don't even know if I said it out loud or in my head. I couldn't tell the difference anymore. I looked up and Grace looked back down at me,

"I'm so sorry Charlie, I am so sorry." I didn't reply, I just stared at her. She looked at me the way George did, the way everyone did after Tommy died. She looked at me with great sympathy and I looked back at her with emptiness.
"I thought you were Tommy," I whispered. Saying his name hurt. Everything hurt. How could Matty do this to me? I hated him, I hated him, I hated him.
"Can I talk to her for a minute please Grace?" I heard George say as he was stood behind Grace. Grace looked at me to make sure it was ok before answering. She nodded then walked off. Her figure becoming a mere blur in the darkness.
"Charlie..." He began. I stared straight ahead of me, I couldn't look at him. He sat down beside me and did the same before finishing what he was going to say,
"He had this girlfriend before, he was proper in love with her. I mean like properly. Anyway, she was in love with him too. But in typical Matty fashion, he fucked up, he got too caught up in his own world and she had enough of him. One night they were arguing and she threatened to leave and he said 'go leave, see if I care' she gave him the option to ask her to stay, but he didn't. Instead she walked out and that was the last time Matty ever saw her. She got into her car and she drove away," he paused. He let silence fill the air before continuing, "She got into her car and drove away very drunk, she ended up going into another car and she died and Matty has never forgiven himself." I turned to look at him, he carried on staring straight ahead into the darkness of the sky,
"That's when the coke started. I mean it's not an excuse to be an arse hole, but it really doesn't help him. He's addicted to the stuff man. What he did to you was unforgivable and I'm really not here to beg you to forgive him, because I don't expect you too, but I haven't seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you. You are his everything, he is proper in love with and I think you should know that Matty does shitty things but he's not a shitty person." I continued to look at him until my tears blinded me. I placed my head on his shoulder,
"Thank you George," was all I managed to say, he smiled but didn't say anything. I knew what he meant. He got up and walked away and left me by myself, and that was the best possible thing he could do.