It's about time I got up from bed. I've been lying here on my bedsheets for almost an hour, trying to get some sleep after Mom had dropped that bomb on me.
I guess I'm going to have to face him now, I just wish I didn't have to.
A knock wraps softly on my door. The sound of it was so quiet, I almost didn't hear it.
"Yeah?" I call out. The knob twists, the bedroom door swings open, then in walks Ashley. Momentarily surprised, my eyes widen in shock. "Ashley, hey. What's up?" I ask, turning on my side to face her, my hand supporting my head as I prop myself up on one shoulder.
Ashley takes a seat beside me. With a slim finger, she tucks a strand of her hair to the back of her ear.
"Bryson," she says quietly. Ashley is fiddling with her hands, an indication that she's nervous about something.
I curl my brownish eyebrows in concern. "What's up, Ash?" I ask again, gently. Grabbing ahold of her small hands, my thumb caresses the backs of them, slowly, softly.
Her eyes flicker towards me before her gaze lingers downwards at our intertwined fingers.
"Is . . . Is Daddy really coming over?" she asks shyly. I gulp down any bile threatening to rise from my throat.
A moment passes us by before I nod my head. Suddenly, my eyelids feel so heavy. "Yeah . . . unfortunately." I reach out to stroke my hand through her blonde hair when Ashley averts her eyes to me again.
"I . . . I want to see him. D-Daddy," Ash whispers, stammering.
Why is she telling me this?
"Th-That's okay, Ashley. If you want to see him." Does she feel bad? Maybe because I don't want to see him?
Ashley nods. Her hands squeeze mine. It scares me how much I can feel her trembling.
"Ashley, what's wrong?" I nudge her closer to me, taking the chance to lay my head against her arm. "Tell me."
She sniffles, as if on the verge of crying. "I don't want you to be mad."
I shake my head at her, giving her a smug scoff. "Why would I be mad? What would I be mad about?" The way she's acting is making me worried . . .
Suddenly, Ashley wraps her arms around me and hugs me, burying her face into my neck. She doesn't say anything for a bit, continuing to hug me tighter. "You're like our daddy," Ashley cries. I rub her back softly, whilst uselessly looking about my room, shocked.
What?
"I want to see him, but I have you!" she sobs.
She's crying . . . because she cares about me?
"Ash . . . Hey, look at me." Urging her face me, Ashley moves away from my neck reluctantly. Her eyes are pink, with tears dripping steadily from the corners of her pink eyelids. I brush my thumb over her cheek, catching one lone tear from falling. "You don't want me to be hurt, though, you want to see Dad?" I question carefully. When she shakes her head yes, my heart nearly crumbles. Lovingly like I always do, I kiss her forehead and her cheeks. "Oh, my little sister," I mumble, taking her into my arms.
I pull away once, glancing her over. "We . . . We all know how much shit we've been going through." Ashley looks me in the eyes, nodding in agreement. "You know I try my hardest to take care of you girls." Sighing heavily, I continue. "Our dad . . . As much as I resent him, he's still our dad. If you want to see him, I'm fine with that. But the only reason—the only way I'd be hurt—is if he hurt you. You understand?"
YOU ARE READING
Suffocate
غموض / إثارةEstranged teenage boy, Bryson Hayden, is close to losing his very last nerve. Being a senior in high school and trying to keep a job is stressful in every sense of the word, but for the sake of his younger sisters, this teenager will give up everyth...
