Ariana Grande Imagines

Tattered Box

(This gives y'all some background on Y/Ns mother. You will learn much more about her in pt2 and 3 of Determined to Live. Enjoy!)

Y/N POV:

I stood at the foot of my bed, staring down at the tattered paper box.

I had just come back from my childhood house after cleaning it up with my brother Caleb. Our father passed away about 4 months ago and he left the house to us, so we cleaned it up to sell it. 

I was rummaging through the attic when I had found the large parcel, conveniently with my name on it. It looked to be years old, at least 20 of age. I asked Caleb about it but he didn't have an answer for me, saying he had never seen it before.

My hands shook slightly, scared to open it. My father had abused me and my brother till we were old enough to get away. As soon as I left that place I remembered feeling almost free, like the chains that wrapped around my neck had weakened, but not broke. Then, as soon as I met Ariana, those chains melted. She saved me from my past and dragged me out of that burning pit.

I reached forward, brushing my thumb across the ink, and slipped my fingers under the lid. I wanted to rip it open and see what was inside, like a child on Christmas, but I couldn't find the will to do so. The box seemed to heat up in my hands, like it knew I was meant to find it. I was about to slide the top off when a pair of soft hands rested on my shoulders.

I sighed and leaned into Ariana's touch, resting my head in the crook of her neck. She kissed my cheek and massaged my shoulders, mumbling about how tense I was.

"You alright?" She said softly, wrapping her arms around my waist.

"Yeah, I think so." I said, snuggling into her warmth. She smiled and hugged me tightly with one arm, while the other reached and picked up the worn box. Ari eyed it carefully and shook it slightly, nodding when she heard the contents inside move.

"Do you wanna open it?" She asked, rubbing her hand up and down my stomach.

I stared at the package but didn't move. Part of me wanted to know what was inside while the other was scared to see. Ariana noticed my state and walked me forward, sitting me down on the bed. She sat beside me, pulling the box towards herself. She carefully popped the lid off and looked inside, her face going from curiosity to happiness in almost an instant. I raised an eyebrow and she pushed the parcel into my lap, linking her arm in mine.

I slowly pulled out picture after picture, inspecting each and remembering how happy and clueless I was when we were young. I ended up emptying the entire box, which contained many pictures, stuffed animals I used to own, and even my old toy handcuffs I had. I smiled when I picked those up, remembering how I told my dad that I was going to be a cop someday. I set them down next to my old stuffed cow and was about to drop the box when Ariana grabbed it.

"Wait Y/N, look. There is another picture."

I peered in the box and she was right, a smaller picture was caught in the worn out paper, almost hidden from view. She grabbed it and flipped it around so she could look at it, and almost immediately frowned in anger. I furrowed my eyebrows and plucked the picture out of her hands, looking at it.

It showed me and my brother, sitting down on a small plastic stool. We were both laughing and trying to push each other off. My dad stood with a tall, elegant woman. She had jet black hair and beautiful blue eyes. She was slim and fit, wearing a red dress that sucked her in. She was smiling, looking happy as can be, as her kids fought over a stupid stool.

Water welled up in my eyes, and I dropped the picture. Ariana grabbed my waist and pulled me into a hug, trying to calm me. Tears started to drip down my face and soon enough I was sobbing into her shoulder, soaking her shirt. She whispered calming words in my ear and rubbed my back, coaxing me to let it all out. I gasped for air, as I was crying so much, and Ari gripped my hand.

"Breath baby breath. With me ok? In, out, in, out." She soothed, walking me through the motions. I slowly stopped crying and buried my face into her neck, wrapped my arms around her. She sighed and leaned backwards, laying down on our bed while I laid atop her. She rubbed in between my shoulder blades and kissed my ear.

"Go to sleep Y/N, I'll be here when you wake up. I love you so much."

I relaxed and breathed in her scent. "I love you more Ariana."

"And I love you most my angel."