Heart Strings

Chapter Thirty-three

Henry's POV

A/N - heavy mention and dialogue of harm, and child abuse. Just a friendly reminder I am not a supporter of any of the things mentioned in the chapter! All fictional!

I had just gotten home from work, my mind was still processing everything with Serenity. The confession of her having a parent in my situation. It was a feeling, a sense of relief almost and I hated it. My mom was...my mom was fine before the drugs but I could barely remember them.

Anyway, I pushed open the door. My smile instantly dropped when I saw bags and trash scattered across the floor. I heard the water running and screaming. Sabrina's screams. I ran down the hall, checking the bathroom. Mom was on the floor trying to get Sabrina in the tub. Sabrina looked completely different. Her blonde hair was dirty from what looked dirt. Her eyes were swollen from crying.

"What are you doing?" I asked quickly dropping onto the floor. Mom remained silent as she continued to undress Sabrina. I grabbed onto her wrist stopping her. Sabrina finally stopped screaming.

"Mom?" I whispered as looked around the bathroom. Mom ripped her wrists away from me. She slowly stood up and looked down at me.

"I- um. I didn't know what was happening. I left for...I left and when I c- came back. Sabrina was- he was- he wouldn't stop." Mom stuttered as she stumbled to walk around me. I got on my feet, leaving Sabrina in the bathroom.

"What are you saying? Did Chad do something?" I asked. "Mom, what did he do?" I asked louder. The house was completely trashed and I felt my good mood wash away. Momma stopped walking and turned to look at me.

"He- Chad was hitting her, I didn't do anything. He threatened to hit me too. So, I watched and Sabrina kept crying her damned head off. So, he...started hitting harder. I didn't want him to hit me too." Mom explained quietly barely with any regret.

"Are you saying you let your daughter get beat and you did absolutely nothing?!" I yelled. It was like a light turned off in her brain because she shrugged and pulled out a pack of cigarettes.

"She's fine, I wasn't gonna get beat because she couldn't handle some roughhousing." Mom said as she sat down on the couch.

I rushed back to the bathroom and Sabrina was still there. She was on the floor, quiet as a mouse. She was scratching on her arm. I grabbed onto her, pulling into a tight hug. It didn't last long because she whined and tried to twist out of my hold. I noticed the bruises on her upper body. I noticed the marks on her neck.

"I'm so sorry, I should've been there. I should've tried to keep you home." I whispered as I looked at the tub filled with water. I grabbed a rag that was already in the tub and soaked it.

I felt like I was just as bad as Chad. I didn't try hard enough to get in contact. I didn't call anyone to save her. It was my fault she was covered in bruises, and hair matted with dirt. It was all my fault. It was my responsibility to take care of Sabrina and I had failed. I tried my best to wipe her face off and wrap the open wounds. It was all I could do after I let her down.

——

I woke up first, I kept telling myself it was a nightmare. A horrible nightmare. Yet, when I saw my sister tucked in a ball. I knew it wasn't. She wouldn't talk, she wouldn't play, she wouldn't move from that spot on my bed. I had to pull her out of daycare. I couldn't go to school with Sabrina like this.

"Did you sleep?" I asked rubbing on her arm. Sabrina didn't say anything just nodding.

"You know what happened wasn't your fault? It was mine. I should've- I should've been there." I breathed out. I let out a pained sigh as my eyes started to burn.