Changed Me ( Rewritten)

26

TW: Brief mention of sexual harassment

            Once everyone is far away, he turns back to look at the tombstone. " Dad " he cries out as he grips onto the grass tightly. " You know what happened right. You know that I was " he pauses. If he is going to admit what happened, then he's going to admit it to his father first.

            " Dad, I was sexually harassed " he admits for the first time, causing himself to break down. " He forcefully kissed me and touched all over my body. I-I was terrified and disgusted. I wasn't strong enough to stop him " he cries out.

            He looks down at his hands that are gripping tightly onto the grass. " T-Then yesterday. H-He transferred to my class. The police came to get him and he was so angry. He used me as a shield before he started to strangle me. I-I couldn't breathe " he says quickly.

            He so desperately wishes to hear his father's voice, telling him that he's going to make it through this. That he is strong. But he knows that will never happen. This is the closest he can ever get to his father again. He wants nothing more then to hug his father one more time.

            He takes a shaky breath, trying to calm himself down as he cries. " Dad. I need you " he quietly cries out as he lays down on the grass. This is the closest he can get to a hug. " Look, we're hugging again " he says quietly.

            He's an emotional wreck. Coming here has been both good and bad. It did cause his stress to get smaller. However, it only made the large hole in his heart feel bigger. Laying where he is, really makes him think about all the things he will never be able to do again. It feels as if he is back at his fathers funeral.

            He just wants to lay here on the ground next to his fathers tombstone. He doesn't want to move. He wants to stay here forever. Just so he can feel as if he is hugging his father again. So he does. He lays there silently as he cries. Mourning for his father all over again.

            He doesn't know how long he lays there for. All he knows, is that he can see Max slowly making his way over towards him. " Baby " Max says gently once he reaches him. He knows that Max has come to bring him back to the others.

            Max kneels down in front of him and starts to gently rub his back. " I don't want to leave him " he cries out quietly. " I know baby. I know " Max says gently. " I feel like I'm mourning him all over again " he says as he starts to cry more. " You haven't stopped mourning him. It hasn't been to long since his passing. It's ok to feel the way you are " Max says gently.

            Max's presence and reassuring words comfort him. " It hurts " he cries out as he slowly sits up. " It's going to hurt for a while but it will get better. Something like this needs time " Max says as he gently wipes the tears from his cheeks.

            He doesn't respond to what Max says. He doesn't know how to. " The others are waiting. They're worried about you baby " Max says gently. He looks towards his fathers tombstone. " Bye dad. I'll try to come often " he says quietly.

            He takes a shaky breath before forcing himself to stand up, stumbling a little as he does so. " Climb on my back. Let me carry you to the others " Max says gently. He nods his head before climbing onto Max's back. He wraps his legs around Max's stomach, while he wraps his arms around Max's neck.

            " I love you " he says quietly. " I love you to baby " Max says as they start to head back towards the others. " Did it help at all? coming to him " Max gently asks him. " A little. I managed to admit it though " he says quietly. " You admitted what " Max asks him gently. " T-That I was " he says before pausing. It's still difficult to actually say it.

            " I know what you were going to say now. Don't force yourself to say it baby " Max says gently. He lays his head down on Max's shoulder. " I was sexually harassed " he says quietly. " You're very strong. Have I ever told you that " Max says. He can see that Max is smiling gently as he talks. " I don't think I would be able to admit it, if it were to happen to me. I don't think a lot of people could. Which means you're really strong baby " Max says.

            " I-If I was going to admit it. I wanted to admit it to my dad " he says quietly. He can see the others off in the distance. They're all looking towards him. " They're worried because you are carrying me " he says quietly. " Then we will just tell them. That I wanted to carry you and that you are doing ok " Max says gently. He hums in agreement as he closes his eyes.

            He likes Max carrying him like this. It feels like a warm hug. He feels safe and cared for when Max is carrying him like this. " Are you alright Nat? Did something happen " his mother asks. " He's ok. He just stumbled a bit when he stood up. So I offered to carry him back to everyone else " Max said.

            " Alright then. I need to head to work. I know Max is going to stay with Nat. But you boys should go to school for the rest of the school day. Especially you NuNew " his mother says. NuNew complains but eventually agrees before they all say goodbye and get into their separate cars.

            He buckles his seatbelt before taking a deep breath. " What would you like to do for the rest of the day " Max gently asks him. " Something relaxing " he says quietly. " I have a hot tub at my house that we can sit and relax in together " Max suggest. " That would be nice. We just need to head to my house first. So I can grab a pair of swim shorts " he says quietly as they drive of towards his house.

             WC: 1052