A/N~ ⚠️ topics of self harm, body image issues, and bullying
Ethan's POV
It was a normal Friday afternoon and I was waiting for my wife, Y/N to come home from picking up our daughter, Charlotte. I was feeding our youngest son, Ransom in his high chair. "Here comes the plane. Open wide buddy." I made airplane noises and moved the spoon of baby food around into his mouth. Ransom clapped his hands and babbled in excitement while eating his food. "I'm glad you like it buddy," I said as I suddenly heard the door open. "Ethan, we're home!," I heard my wife say. "Hi honey." I kissed her on the forehead. I bent down to give Charlotte a kiss on the cheek. "Hi Lottie. How was school today?" "It was ok. Nothing much really happened," she said while fidgeting with her fingers and looking down. I felt something was a little off with her so I grabbed her hands and looked her in the eyes. "Are you okay sweetie?" "Yeah dad, I'm just a little bit tired. I'm gonna go up to my room and do my homework." "Ok, I'll put your dinner to the side for when you're done. I love you." "Love you too," she said in a hushed tone. She turned around and quickly went up the stairs to her room. I turned back around to see Y/N playing with Ransom in his high chair. "Hey Y/N?" "Yes baby?" "Do you think something's off with Charlotte? Or is it just me?" "Well, she's been at school all day so maybe she's just tired. She'll come down and eat eventually," Y/N reassured me. "Yeah, I think I was just being paranoid."
2 hours later...
Y/N's POV
I was cleaning up the kitchen while Ethan was getting Ransom ready for bed when I saw a plate from dinner still on the table. "Hey E!?" "Yeah?!" "Did Charlotte ever come down for dinner?" "No, I assume she just fell asleep. I can wrap it up in the fridge once I finish feeding Ransom." "Ok. I'll go check on Lottie." I dried my hands off and made my way upstairs to Lottie's room. The door was slightly open so I peeked in and didn't see Lottie on the bed. "Charlotte? Are you in the bathroom?" "The bathroom door was closed and I could hear the sink running. I knocked two times and still didn't get an answer. "Lottie, I know you're in there. Are you okay?" I still got no response. "Alright, I'm coming in," I said as I opened the door.
Ethan's POV
I had just gotten Ransom to fall asleep when I suddenly heard the sound of screaming upstairs. "LOTTIE NO! ETHAN!" I quickly got up and ran up the stairs into Lottie's room. My heart dropped as I saw Y/N sobbing on the floor and Charlotte also crying while covering her bloody arms with toilet paper. "Lottie, what happened?" "SHE TRIED TO KILL HERSELF ETHAN! LOTTIE! HOW COULD YOU DO THIS? WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!?," Y/N said as she was yelling at Lottie. "I'm not happy mom. I don't want to be alive," Lottie cried into her hands. I turned to Y/N and put my hands on her shoulders. She collapsed into my arms as she cried. "Why don't you go check on Ransom and make sure he's still asleep? I'll talk to Lottie and get this sorted out ok?," I said softly as I kissed her hair. She nodded against me and then walked out of the room. I turned to Lottie and sat next to her on the bathroom floor. Lottie turned her back to me while she was still crying. "Cmon Lottie, why won't you look at me?" "I just feel like I mess everything up dad. Everyone at school makes fun of how I look, they tell me that I'll never be able to play volleyball because I'm too fat. I just feel so alone dad." I hugged Lottie so close to me, it felt like if I let go, she would disappear. I had tears in my eyes thinking about losing my only daughter. "Lottie listen to me, I love you with every fiber in my being. Those kids who are making fun of you are just jealous that you're an amazing volleyball player. You can't let them get in your head about any of that because their opinions don't matter. You are beautiful inside and out Lottie. Please believe me when I say that because I truly mean it and I couldn't bear to think of losing you," I finished as I kissed her head. "I'm sorry dad. I didn't mean to-" "Hey, don't apologize. We are all going through something. I just want you to know that you're not alone in this ok? You can talk to me and mom about anything." Lottie smiled a little and put her head on my shoulder. "Thanks Dad. I love you." "I love you too Lottie." Suddenly, the door slowly opened and I saw Y/N walk in Lottie's room. "Hey Ethan, can I talk to Lottie for a second?" "Yeah sure." I kissed Lottie's forehead and told her goodnight. "Hey, you okay?," I asked Y/N. "Yeah, I sung Ransom to sleep since he woke up from all the yelling. I didn't mean to lash out on Lottie like that. I was just-" "I know you didn't mean it honey. You have your own issues with the subject. I love you," I said as I kissed her and went out of Lottie's room and into our bedroom.
Y/N's POV
"I love you too." I looked over at Lottie who was still sitting on the bathroom floor and sat next to her. "Mom, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to scare you like that. I just felt like I had no other way out." My eyes started to tear up as I hugged Lottie. "Sweetheart, there's no need for you to apologize. I'm sorry that I got angry and stormed off instead of comforting you. I lost my mom to suicide when I was your age and it was the most difficult time in my life. I felt the same way that you did but then I met your dad and he made my life so much better. I love you so so much Lottie. I really hope you know that," I finished as I started crying and hugging her. "I love you too mom."
A/N~ I know that this story had some possibly triggering topics but if you need to talk, I'm always a message away💞
