My Last Hope

22

Warnings:
-Only mentions of the past things

Clay's POV

I spent a few days in the hospital and was allowed to go home after that. I really didn't want to go home, but my dad had texted me hundreds of times after he found out I was still alive. I needed to go back home.

George's mother brought me home and George stayed with me. I couldn't walk so he drove me inside in my wheelchair, seeing my dad stand in the opening of the door.

He glared at me but as soon as he saw George his mood changed and he smiled. 'Hi.'

George seemed to be really annoyed with him and ignored him, driving me to the stairs. He lifted me up very carefully.

'Let's go upstairs, Clay. Come on, lift your left leg slowly.'

I lifted my leg and he helped me lift my other too. It took me five minutes to walk the stairs, but George seemed really proud of me.

'Good job,' he said to me with a big smile. 'Lay down on your bed now, okay?'

I nodded and laid down on it, taking a deep breath. George laid next to me and grabbed his bag, pulling my bears and pacifier out of it. I hugged my bears and laid the pacifier down on my nightstand as I looked at him.

'Hug?' I mumbled shyly. I looked at my hands and George smiled at me.

'Of course, I missed being able to hug you easily when you were in the hospital.'

He leaned in and grabbed my hand before he hugged me. He grabbed my pacifier again and made me suck it to calm down.

He just ran his hand through my hair as someone knocked on the door. We broke the hug immediately, having me pull my pacifier out as I cleared my throat, being scared it was my dad.

'Yeah,' I muttered.

The door opened and I got startled as two police officers came in.

'Uh, hello?' I mumbled as I tried to lift myself up. My body was too weak and sore to do so, so I kept laying down as I put my bears on the floor.

'Clay, we would like to talk to you about a few things. Can you leave?' they said, asking George to leave.

'I want him with me,' I whispered. 'Please.'

'Okay,' one of the officers said. 'But we will have to discuss personal things.'

'It's fine,' I sighed. 'I'd have to tell him one day.'

George grabbed two chairs for them and they sat down as he closed the door, cuddling up with me again. He reached out for my bears and made me hold them. 'You can just cuddle with your bears.'

I smiled shyly and looked at an officer who started to talk.

'Clay, we know you use a lot of illegal drugs, you drink while being underaged and we've seen you on cameras in stores.'

'I'm sorry,' I whispered. 'I promise, I got blackmailed.'

'You admit to stealing multiple things, including pickpocketing?'

'Y-yes,' I mumbled as I hid my face. 'And I'm so sorry for it. Listen, I can't tell you everything, but I know I was in the wrong. I didn't want to do it, but I had to.'

I looked up at George and he just smiled. 'I'm not mad, Clay. Don't be scared.'

'I had to,' I whispered.

'What made you have to steal?'

'I can't say,' I said hesitantly. 'Am I going to jail? Please, I can't. I have a reason, but I'm in danger if I tell you.'

'You won't go to jail, but we will at least have to know for who you stole.'

'My drug dealer,' I mumbled with a trembling voice. 'He knew something which he would tell that person. I would be dead if he did. I also don't have money so I had to steal to get the drugs. I'm sorry for doing illegal drugs, I had to do something to forget and then got addicted.'

'Clay, you can trust us with what happened. We are here to keep you safe if we need to.'

'N-no, I really c-can't say. I d-don't want t-to die and l-leave George.'

'We can't force you but if you need protection from us, please make sure you tell us. You won't have to go to jail, but I think you'll understand that you'll get a punishment which will mean you have to clean the park for the next few weeks.'

'I understand,' I sighed.

They talked a bit more with me and then looked up. 'I think it's best to get your dad to-.'

'NO!' I yelled out. 'No! Please don't, uh- just punish me more or something, but don't tell my dad. I beg you.'

'Do you feel safe at home, Clay?'

I didn't answer him and stared down at my hands as I tried not to panic. 'Don't tell my dad, just don't. Please. I know you're obligated to, but please don't. Can you make an exception for me? I beg you.'

'Has your dad ever hurt you? Did he cause your injuries?'

I didn't reply again and reached out to my pacifier. I put it in my mouth and tried to move to my side, but it hurt too much. The police officers understood I wanted them to leave and they stood up after a while.

I was left with George and looked at him with a sad face. 'Sorry,' I mumbled. 'I didn't want to.'

He just smiled. 'I believe that you have a good reason for it, Clay. I forgive you, I hope you won't steal again, though.'

'I won't,' I whispered.

George pulled me closer and let me rest my head on his chest while I held my bear and sucked my pacifier.

'Would you ever be ready to tell me what happened in the past?' George questioned.

I looked up at him and then at the door.

'It's closed,' George confirmed as he saw me look. 'Do you want to tell me?'

I sighed softly. 'But swear to keep it a secret,' I muttered as I looked at him.

'I promise,' George swore.

1030 words