STUTTER

Chapter 12

Scott fell asleep before I did, leaving me to trace my fingers over his bruised neck as he slept. His skin's soft, his breaths quiet and slow in the quiet of my bedroom. The only sound heard was the quiet music playing from the radio and the box fan whirring in the corner.

My door creaked open, a young girl trotting into my room and grabbing my hand. "Uncle Kei!" She whispered, tugging at my fingers. I sat up and scooped her up in my arms, sitting her down in my lap.

"What're you doing up, you little worm?"

"Why is your boyfriend staying with us?"

"Answer me first."

"I couldn't sleep." She leaned her head against my chest as I ran my fingers through her hair.  She wore a white nightgown, which she had drawn messy flowers on in marker. "And why is he all hurt?"

"Some people aren't as lucky as we are. Scott's house is dangerous for him so he's gonna be sleeping here."

"Why is it dangerous?"

"People aren't always nice to their children." I felt her playing with my fingers, opening my hand and tracing her index finger over the creases of my palm. "Your mom told you about the bad people, didn't she?"

"Mhm."

"Well Scott's daddy is one of the bad people. So we've gotta protect him, because he's very special to me."

"His daddy hurts him?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"It's complicated."

"But Scotty's so nice." She reached over and grabbed ahold of Scott's thumb. "He made my sandwich and watched cartoons with me."

I smiled softly, kissing the top of her head and resting a hand on her shoulder, running my thumb back and forth across her smooth skin. "Which is exactly why we have to protect him. Because he's so nice."

"I won't let the bad people hurt him, don't worry." She turned around in my lap to face me with a bright smile. "I'm gonna keep him safe so you don't have to be scared for him!"

"That's very sweet, Sara."

"You love him, don't you?"

"I do."

"Mom told me that some people don't like boys who like boys. I think they're stupid."

"I think so too." I sighed. "I think you should love whoever you want to. Your heart loves whoever it wants to love, and you can't ignore it. I tried to."

"What happened when you tried to?"

"I fell in love even faster." I placed my hands on either side of her face. "Make me a promise."

"Promise?"

"Promise me that if anyone ever tries to hurt you, you'll tell me."

"Pinky promise!" She held up her pinky, which I locked around mine with a smile.

"Thank you. Now go to sleep, alright?"

"But I've gotta protect Scotty."

"I've got him for tonight, Sweetheart." I helped her off of my lap. "He'll be safe with me."

"Okay. Goodnight!" She trotted away and closed my door.

I took a deep breath and laid back down, my brain tired from worrying all day. I'd never seen someone in my life get hurt my someone else's hands before and for some reason, it made my heart twist in my chest.

He had the fingers of a piano player and a heart of porcelain. Skin of a butterfly's wing and eyes of an early morning coffee. He always smelled like lavender shampoo and strawberry candy, his touch as delicate as a freshly blown bubble. How could someone harm something so soft and precious?

There's a knot in my stomach as the thought circles my brain.

I twirled the curls of his hair around my fingers, the color rather dull in the moon's lighting. His hair is soft.

He grumbled softly, opening his eyes a bit. "...you're awake?"

"I uh...I couldn't sleep very well so I've just been laying here."

"You could have woken me up."

"You need the rest. Go back to sleep."

He pressed his face into my arm and closed his eyes again. "I had a weird dream."

"Weird how?"

"My mom met you and then you bought her a cat for her birthday."

"I don't think I'd ever buy anyone a cat."

"....you smell good."

I laughed at that. "Just fall asleep already."

"But you'll be all alone."

"I'll sleep too."