𝙻𝚊𝚍𝚢 𝚘𝚏 𝙳𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑

| |

╔ ╗
𝚉𝙰𝚁𝙴𝙻𝙸 𝚁𝙷𝚈𝚂 𝙹𝙾𝙷𝙽𝚂𝙾𝙽
𝟿:𝟶𝟷 𝙿𝙼
𝙻𝙰𝙳𝚈 𝙾𝙵 𝙳𝙴𝙰𝚃𝙷
╚ ╝

         I leaned back into the couch with my arms crossed looking at nothing in particular as I waited to be called a liar or the denial that was going to come from my mom.

I had told my dad everything that had happened, everything.

This lady had told me not even hours ago that she would've aborted me and thought I was going to spare her.

I'm a kind person but never that kind.

I looked up at my dad who looked calm despite what I had just told him. I was hoping the pieces were fitting together and that he would believe me, I needed someone to believe me.

I broke the silence.

"Daddy you believe me right," I asked quietly.

"He ain't got no reason to believe yo lyin ass. I ain't never did shit but try to love you! And here you go tellin this man lies cause we had a disagreement. I wish I would do anything else fa yo ungrateful ass!" Delilah said.

"Why would I lie about this," I asked, more to myself questioning if it really happened.

I started chewing on my thumb trying to remember the details of all the things she did so I could atleast believe myself.

"No you did do it," I said again quietly still trying to remember.

This didn't make sense. When I think about it feels like a dream, like something that didn't happen but with too many details for it to not have.

"Don't gaslight my daughter Delilah," My dad finally said.

He wasn't loud or didn't seem angry. It made my chest deflate, like he didn't believe me either.

He looked at me finally.

"Zee when this happen," he asked softly.

"A-After you left. She was mad at me, she thought it was my fault," I said not being able to forget the conversation she had with me on my eighth birthday.

The smell of alcohol on her breathe when she came into my room that night.

"When Zareli," he asked again.

"She told me that on my eighth birthday.. You don't believe me do you," I asked quietly.

"You told me you had fun on your eighth birthday when you came to see me," He tried to make sense of it.

"Because she beat me like I was somebody on the street that night, I ain't want it to happen again," I said getting frustrated.

"I didn't see any marks Rhys, it's not makin sense," he said burying his face in his hands.

"So you- you think I jus got all this anger towards her for nothing? You think I would make some shit like this up," I said getting louder with each word.

"Delilah.. Delilah. I know you right? I knew you since we was kids. I know how you was," He said shaking his head that was held up by his hands.

"Delilah you knew better than to put yo hands on my child ain't you," He had raised his head looking her in her eyes.

Her face faltered for a second when she looked at me, like she was actually scared.

"Obviously Jay, I'm not that crazy damn," She laughed a fake laugh.

"What's funny D. This shit not funny, it's yo life you laughin at right now," He said furrowing his eyebrows.

"Stop playin wit me Jeremiah, I can laugh," she said rolling her eyes acting tough.

He looked at her for a second before he stood over her and swung, I heard her nose snap. It wasn't long before blood rushed down her face and he swung again.

She held her nose, crying while he spoke again.

"Delilah you ain't put yo hands on my child right," He said through gritted teeth.

"You knew better than to do some stupid shit like that right," He yelled.

He punched at her sides, cracking ribs. He fumed as he sat back down, his leg shaking.

"I don't hit females Zee, don't let no nigga hit on you."

"I know daddy," I said looking at him.

He believed me and that was all I needed.

"Whatchu wanna do Zee?" He asked me when his breathing evened out.

She looked at me with a bloody, tear stained face. She looked at me like she would've continued to plead her case if she wasn't in the pain she was in.

"Do whatchu want wit her.. jus make sure it hurt." I said looking at her sob.

There was no sound for minutes besides Delilahs cries.

"Zee I would've believed you. I'm always gon believe you, you could've told me. I would've protected you," He sniffed and wiped his face.

"I'm sorry," I replied.

"You aint got nothin to apologize for, I should be the one sorry. It's over though, she dead. And you gon be safe now you hear me," He said making Delilah cry louder.

"I hear you."

-thoughts?