LEFT BEHIND | Scarlett Johansson x Daughter.

CHAPTER 53 - 'I AM FINE!' she isn't. *

Just as I'm about to open my office door shouting comes from down the hallway.

"MAMA!"

"ROSE! NO! GET OUT! SHUT UP! GET OUT NOW!"

My body moves on autopilot, Colin following behind me as we both practically sprint down the hallway.

I see Rose standing outside of JJ's room, the door slamming not long after and then random noise coming from her room. Rose is in tears as she turns to me and runs into my arms, her breathing all over the place as she continues to sob.

I try to hand her over to Colin so I can check on Y/n but she only cries harder and clings onto me. I knock on JJ's door before trying to open it but I'm met with resistance, something clearly in the way of being able to open it. Anxiety completely fills me but I need to be thinking straight right now.

"Bug...can you open the door please?" I shout over the noise coming from her room, not really able to work out what it is. 

"I JUST WANT TO BE LEFT ALONE PLEASE! I AM FINE!" She shouts back, but I can hear the whimper in her voice, my mind just seeing red. 

"JJ, I need to be able to see that you're okay. I believe you say you're fine but I need to see it with my own eyes to know that you're safe!" 

"I AM! I AM SAFE! I AM FINE! PLEASE JUST LEAVE ME ALONE! I'LL TALK TO YOU WHEN I AM READY!" I sigh as I realise the only way I am getting into her room is if I tear down the door, I need to trust her, believe her. She needs space, as much as right now I don't want to give it to her, I know I need to. She is still trying to process everything. So I walk away. Rose still settled in my arms, her small cries still being heard. Colin raises his eyebrows at me but I just walk past him, knowing he is going to follow me anyway. 

I move into Rose's room, trying to get her out of my arms to be able to get her pyjamas on but she doesn't want to leave my arms. I have to settle on getting her changed while somehow still holding onto her but I manage. Colin hovers in the room, following my every move with his eyes. 

He follows me downstairs and through to the kitchen before he ends up speaking as I search through the fridge for something to make for dinner. "Me and Rose ate at my mom's, I text but I don't think you saw it." I don't bother answering his words, grabbing a carton of milk and then Roses sippy cup from the cupboard. Knowing she is tired and with the breakdown she just had will want some milk and cuddles before falling asleep. 

I walk into the living room setting myself down and cradle Rose to my chest as she takes her bottle and starts to drink it, her tears finally subsiding. It has been a while since she has been like this. Sometimes I forget how grown up she actually is for her age. I wish she would stay like this forever but that's not reality. Colin sits down next to me as my gaze stays on Rose, I watch as her eyes start to close as she keeps drinking, her body getting heavier and heavier as she lets sleep overtake her. 

Colins arm wraps around me and I let my own body sculpture into his side. My back against his chest while he strokes a hand through my hair. 

"What's going on, Scar?" He whispers into my ear, trying his hardest to not disturb Rose asleep on my lap. 

"She had a good day...then some guy grabbed her outside of the school doors and she just shut down. She didn't speak on the way home and then when we came in said she needed time alone and to process things so I let her. Kevin also called, I can't push filming back anymore...I'm just overwhelmed and stressed, I'll be fine." I explain the bare minimum, I'm so tired. 

"I wish you'd stop dismissing how you're feeling. It's okay to want a break, Scar. You don't have to keep going until you drop, you can just take a break."