Limbo [h.s]

4

Taylor Swift - Shake it off 

"Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake

I shake it off, I shake it off"

*TW - child abuse*

Chapter 4 Harry's POV

*Flashback – Harry age 6*

I could hear her screams from the opposite side of the house.

My bedroom was the furthest room from my parents. My mum demanded it be that way although I could never understand why.

I know I shouldn't intervene but her cries for help were getting louder by the second making me wonder what the hell my father was doing to her down there.

With the small bit of courage I had, I forced my body down the stairs and into the kitchen where her voice was the loudest.

As soon as I walked onto the tiled covered flooring I saw my mother being pushed up against the wall as my dad had his hand wrapped tightly around her throat, squeezing his fingers hard enough to leave imprints on her neck.

"Dad please stop, you're hurting her" I try to get between them, squishing my way through the small gap of their bodies. As soon as I look up to try and tell him what he's doing seems to be hurting her I notice that he's got that funny smell on his breath again.

I look back towards mum to see if she notices it too, but the scent doesn't seem to faze her.

I could see her body shaking and the tear streak marks that tainted her cheeks, but she tried to cover her worries with "It's ok honey just go back to your room I'll come kiss you goodnight soon, just please go up to your room and don't come out until I come up and see you" she croaks out. Tears fall down my face as I just stare up at her.

"GET RID OF HIM BEFORE I DO" my father beacons with authority, slamming his free hand against the wall next to her head.

In an instant mum pushed herself forward off the wall, straining her neck against my dad's grip to help shield me. Her perfume invaded my senses calming me down. It was as if there was a bubble of protection around me, only me and mum.

But with her moving her upper body inwards I noticed that there was a small patch of red paint hidden behind her head, it had gotten into her hair and smelt kind of like metal, not at all like the paint that I use for my arts and crafts.

The mix of her perfume, the odd paint and my father's breath made the kitchen smell horrid and I decided that I could no longer stand between them.