Quiet Not Innocent | ✔︎

Chapter 7:

A S P E N  ♡  W I L S O N
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I stare at my ex-womb landlord and blink before erupting into a fit of laughter.

"Damn! You've gotten a sense of humor since the last time I've seen you." I pat her on the shoulder, grinning. "I'm going to go do my homework-"

She rips my hand off her shoulder and glares at me ferociously. "I am not joking around with you, Aspen. You're going to therapy starting next week."

"And if I say no?" I tilt my head, smiling at her mockingly.

"You don't have a choice in this."

"I'm the one who you're trying to push into therapy so of course I have a choice. Now enlighten me with what you're going to do if I refuse to attend."

Her fists clench and a smug smile comes onto my face because there was nothing she could offer that would actually get to me.

She could possibly kick me out of her house, but we all know I'd gladly walk out without throwing a fit.

"You need therapy, Aspen." Her eyes become desperate and her tone pleading. "You're a mess! You need help with your anger issues and I want you to get that help before you continue to destroy your—"

I'm a mess?

I smile bitterly. "I think you need to open your eyes to the people who live with you and focus on your own family before seeking help for me."

"Why do you have to be so stubborn?" She grits her teeth, her hands flying up to tug at her hair.

"I learned it from you so blame yourself." My grip on my backpack straps tighten and I walk around her to leave.

Her hoarse whisper stops me near the stairs. "You have to go to therapy, Aspen. I'm trying for you..."

I brush it off and jog up the stairs, walking fast to my room. Once I get inside and lock the door, I place my backpack down and change my clothes before grabbing my backpack and climbing out the window.

The window to the bedroom had a roof surface right underneath it and I discovered this a few days ago when I was trying to climb up to my room using the tree.

I stay out on the roof for a long time, watching tutorials on YouTube on previous learning material and completing the assignments my seven teacher had hoarded me with.

The longer I stayed on the roof, the more I felt myself growing attached to the spot. I liked how cool the wind was against my face and how from the way the roof was designed, I could see the world but it couldn't see me.

At one point when I finished all my homework and the sun had went down, I go back inside my room to grab my laptop and a few blankets and pillows. I set everything up before laying on my stomach and propping my laptop up to watch movies.

I wasn't planning to sleep tonight. I was too afraid.

You're a mess, you're a mess, you're a mess.

Those words were going to haunt me all night in my dreams.

"I'm not giving you the children, Melissa! I have just as much right to them as you do. I'm their father!"