𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠

𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝟶𝟶

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞

FIVE YEARS OLD 

SHE HUFFS childishly, crossing her arms and pouts. Her dad stares at her, amusement dancing in his eyes, an eyebrow raised in question, silently asking his daughter 'what now?'

She furrows her brows, pout deepening. Seeing his daughter's expression, he smiles softly; widens his eyes, making them cross and sticks his tongue out to the side, laughing when she finally smiles.

A frown settles back on her lips, eyes casting down and staring at her light up shoes, attempting to hide the smile when she sees 'Hello Kitty's' face lighting up.

They are her favourite pair!

Her dad finally gives in, sighing quietly, "What's wrong sweet pea?" She looks up, blinking, "What's with that frown on your face?" She does not reply, and instead silently stares at his face.

Her eyes suddenly blur with tears, fingers curling around the back of her white dress. His eyes fill with concern, finally noticing the distress state she is in. Leaning down on one leg, he softly pushes her baby hairs out her face, murmuring, "Tell me what's wrong?"

She leaps into his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck and nuzzles her face into his hard chest, breathing softly. I am safe now; she thinks to herself.

Her dad wastes no time in holding her tightly, softly patting her hair in a soothing matter, trying his best to calm the cries that leave her mouth.

"Belle?" Worry laces in his tone, a curious but soft gaze in his eyes. "Did something happen?" He tries to move her face out his chest, but she shakes her head, quietly whining, "Okay, okay. You can stay there."

Being held by her dad makes her feel safe and protected. She might be four— five—which is considered a big girl, but sometimes, okay most times, she needs her dad.

"Blake," She finally blubbers out, small hands rubbing at her eyes, "I- I don't like him, dad!" She tries her best not to cry when explaining herself but fails.

He straightens up, hands protectively wrapping around her. Sitting her on the counter, hands leaning on each side of her, concern swirls in his eyes, patiently waiting for her to continue. He knows how his daughter gets. If she ends up crying too much, she loses her breathe and sometimes ends up having an asthma attack.

"Mummy wasn't listening!" She already has a slight lisp when speaking, so her crying and talking does not really help. It is no surprise if her dad cannot understand a word.

"What did he do?" He watches her fiddle with her hair, honey eyes watching her carefully, "Belle?"

She looks at her lap, tears blurring her eyes again. She is confused really, not knowing why she is upset but she knows she has every reason to be upset.

"Mummy went to 'make dinner so I was sitting with Blake," She hiccups in-between, her sobs mumbling the words, " 'nd he kept touching me! I told mum but-"

"Touching you?!" Her eyes widen, noticing her dad is angry. The little girl knows he is not angry at her, so she is not worried, but he is still angry. Rubbing her nose with the back of her hand, sniffling softly, she nods, answering his question, "Yes."

His jaw clenches, hands curling into fists and eyes filling with anger, "Did you tell mummy?" The thoughts that fill his head are new. He is never wanted to kill Blake more than he did right now.

Tears fill her eyes again, remembering when her mum called her a liar after telling her what Blake did. Her dad listens quietly- the anger blazing in his eyes going unseen by his daughter- as she tells him exactly what happened at her mum's house. His arms wrap around her protectively, handheld against the back of her head. Her hands move to tightly grip his black shirt, still feeling scared but slightly at ease.