My dad is a Musician

Chapter 6

I rushed to the hospital from where I was led to the room Leon and Pamella were kept in.

"Yes. I am so happy that you reached in time." I heard a boy's voice. It was soft like breeze. I slowly went in. "She could have died otherwise." I saw Leon talking over there with another man. "Thankyou for saving my life." He said.

"I had no idea you could talk." Pamella who was lying on the bed beside him said. She looked tired. I think her parents aren't here.

"I chose to be mute because of my past trauma. A situation more scary than my past appeared and I was forced to talk. I was hurt and they were far away. I had to use my voice. I think the nurse said something along those lines when I explained why my voice is so muffled."

"My son…", he can talk.

"Papa…", Leon looked up.

If the incident the person on call mentioned is true and if what the nurse explained to Leon is true, then… my baby has become so much better than what he was earlier. I am so proud of him.

Suddenly I felt a tear run down my cheek. It's the first time I would have cried after my wife died. I wiped it off. I think I had been anxious about losing him for all this while and all of that just melted when I saw him and came out in the form of relief and the happiness of seeing him talk just moved me to tears.

"Hey, isn't he…" I heard one of the tourists talk.

"Yes, Daniel Lafelle, the pianist." The other said.

I wiped off the tears on my face and went to my son. I generally don't like this attention but today was different. I was super happy that my son and his friend were safe and that Leon was able to talk. I didn't feel like getting bothered by anything else. I just want to feel the moment.

I sat on the bed and gave Leon a hug. I could feel his head buried in my chest and my shirt slowly getting wet by his tears. I could hear him sob and say something that I could not comprehend. It felt muffled.

I put my hand on his head and stroked his hair. I was angry a moment ago but now I am just relieved. I am just relieved that both the kids are safe.

"Leon," I started, "and Pamella. You should never sneak out this way. You now know what can happen right? And especially if you are going to some place outside the society, please at least inform an adult."

A mild scolding is needed. It would have been bad if something worse had happened.

"Yes sir, sorry." Pamella said, feeling regretful.

"It's ok, Pamella. Please talk to your parents properly about it. They must be worried sick too."

"I will."

I smiled at her. She is really a good person. I hope her parents don't go too harsh on her. They were not here either. This is suspicious.

Leon, on the other hand, didn't stop crying. Does he feel that bad? Well, partially it was my fault too. I will have to think very carefully about what to do next or it can put us back to square one.

"Leo," I started, "It's ok. I am more than happy that you are safe."

"Ye- ah…", his voice stuttered a bit as he clenched my shirt tightly. Is he really that scared? What is he scared of? The incident that happened or the after effects of both me and her parents finding out the truth? I need to make him believe that he is safe here at the moment and that he is not going to be punished.

"Leo, I…"

"My sugar!" I suddenly heard a woman come in banging open the door. It was Mrs. Scroll. That startled me.

"Mom…" Pamella said.

"Hey! This is a hospital. Don't yell." Her husband said the first thing after he came into the room. He was panting. Was she running and he was trying to catch up with her? "We already have got a speeding ticket because you were driving so rashly."

Damn. She got no chill for her daughter. I am no different either. I rushed here too, just the fact is that I didn't get a speeding ticket. I was still driving faster than I usually would, all for Leon.

"It was for my honeybee." She said and walked towards her daughter.

Her husband closed the door and followed her. It was then that he saw me and smiled at me. I smiled back at him. All of us were more worried about the kids than having a conversation and building connections to help us in the future.

"My apple pie," her mom said sitting down beside her on the bed like me, "Are you ok? Are you hurt?"

"I am fine." She replied, her voice just became colder, it's hard to believe she was the same person I was talking to a few minutes ago.

"My choc chip cookie…" Mrs Scroll started, "WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING TO SNEAK OUT IN SUCH A WAY, HUH?! DO YOU TAKE US WORRYING ABOUT YOU FOR GRANTED?!"

Leon broke from the hug and sat straight on the bed. He then looked at them. I thought it was going to be a sweet scene. I can feel you kid, she reminds me of my mom when I did something stupid. Why did she suddenly start to yell in uppercase?

One of the duo of the tourists who saved the kids cleared his throat, and said, "It's getting late so we should actually go." And they stealthily left the room while the dad followed them saying that he needed to thank them. Bro! Be with your wife yelling at your daughter when she should not!

Here Pamella's mom just went crazy on her daughter and there I was thinking of my every move to not scare Leon. Even he was surprised by the yelling.

"YOUNG LADY YOU BETTER KNOW THAT YOU ARE IN BIG TROUBLE FOR ALL THIS!! WHAT IF SOMETHING WOULD HAVE HAPPENED TO YOU TODAY?! WHO WAS THE ONE GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE?! YOU ARE ONE HELL OF AN IDIOT!!"

And she was telling me to calm down the other day? I didn't even do 1 percent of what she is doing now.

I felt a light tug on my shirt. I looked down at Leon, "I just felt super grateful to have you as my dad, papa. I will never misbehave again. Please take me to some other room. Her mom is… scary."

"Are you feeling unwell?" Oh my god. Is he having a panic attack or flashbacks of his abuser or something?

"No, but she is scary when yelling." His hands don't seem to be trembling so it's nothing more than just being startled at the sudden change in voice.

"I will change the room then." I said and I got out. My poor baby. I will have a private room for him.

But all in all, it's a good thing that he is safe and honestly that's what is making me relieved.

But, would he be able to talk about his abuser better now? Does him getting his voice back, indicates he got a flashback to that man? Would he be able to tell how his abuser looks? Will he serve as a witness in court and then once it's done, will be taken into an orphanage? Will my baby be taken away from me at last?

No… I can't let this happen. I will adopt him officially and raise him. I have been taking care of him for a while and I continue to do so in the future too. I promise to not give anyone any reason to take my baby away from me. I will do the necessary once I have discussed it with Leon. If he wishes for it, he will get it. It's a promise from me to him.