𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 | 𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨

011. hugging 📱

"You are in so much trouble, Evangeline!" My father said, more like yelling, when I got in front of him.

The three of them looked at me with disappointed eyes. Even Andrew. He looked the most disappointed of them and I couldn't understand why. He said it was cool when he saw me sneak out.

"Dad, I know you're–"

Dad cut me off. "What, mad? Angry? Disappointed? I'm all of them!" He yelled again and ran a hand through his black hair. "And who's him?" He pointed behind me.

I turn my head and see Henry. I didn't know he came with me. I thought he left the moment he saw them outside, looking all mad and angry. But he stayed behind me, and his face seemed like he was ready to fight anyone who dared to do something. "He's my friend."

"Friend? What friend Evangeline?! He doesn't seem to be in high school." This is the second time I see this expression on his face. This angry face. The first time was when he found out why my sister killed herself.

"He's not. I met while he waited to pick up his cousin." I was surprised that I lied so fast. I never lied to them until recently. I felt bad but I couldn't live like that anymore.

"That's why you want to go to high school? To make friends?" This time my mother spoke. She still had that soft voice, it was different from my dad's. Dad yelled. Mom spoke like a part of her understood me. "You already have Andrew."

"Andrew isn't enough, mom!" I looked at Andrew and gave him an apologetic look. "Even though he is my friend, I could see him one hour a week. You think that's enough?" I looked at both of them. Dad avoided my gaze.

"Evangeline, you know we do this to protect you." Mom said.

"No, mom. You do this to protect yourself from another heartbreak. Not me. If you truly cared about me, you would have let me have a normal life. You only care about yourself and your dead daughter! And if you keep this up, you will have another one!"

Dad's eyes widened. Mine too. I didn't expect this to come out of my mouth. It was true, though. I thought about that. A lot of times if I am being honest. I wanted to get out of this life and killing myself seemed to be the only option. But then I thought about my parents and what they went through. I couldn't let them live that again.

"Evangeline!" Mom said my name in a serious voice while Dad started walking towards me.

Henry grabbed me by my elbow, taking me behind him. I was surprised by it. When I looked at his face, his eyes were full of something. Fear? Regret? Both? But either way, my mind was full of questions and answers I didn't want to be true.

"Excuse me?" Dad told Henry but he didn't take his hand off of me. He looked Dad directly in his eyes like they were battling.

"It's okay," I said to Henry. I carefully took his hand off and put myself between the two of them. "I'm sorry for what I said."

"Why did you sneak out?" Now his voice was calmer

"Because if you want to look me up again, at least let it be for a good reason." Henry was the good reason. If I had to be locked up again, guarded 24/7 at least I got to see him one last time.

"A serial killer is not enough?" He started yelling again. My mom put a hand on his shoulder to calm him down.

"Dad, a serial killer won't hurt me! And let's be honest, he killed a rapist. What if he just kills bad people? I'm not a bad person!" I started to defend a murderer because of my parents.

I know it was wrong. What if he killed that rapist but also killed some innocent people? Or what if he's drunk and someone accidentally bumps into him? Will he kill that person? It's his instinct, right?