Author's Note: This is a drabble I wrote for xmen100, the challenge was to include certain words- for this one it was telephone cord, white noise and crying. Pyro's POV.

He clutches the telephone cord like a lifeline. The sounds around him have all converged into one deafening white noise and it's all he can do not to turn round and scream at the shoppers to Shut The HELL Up. Can't they see he needs quiet?

"Hello Xavier's School."

His throat seizes up and with disgust he realises he's crying. Why is he doing this, why is he phoning 'home'? Don't pretend it's to tell them you're alive he berated himself, Xavier will know anyway.

"Hello?"

He slams the phone down, breathing hard, and realises he can never go back.