My Sunflower(Elio Story)

💛🌻Chapter 3: Echoes of Despair💛🌻

**⚠️ Trigger Warning:** This chapter contains graphic depictions of physical and emotional abuse, self-harm, and bullying, which may be distressing for some readers. Please proceed with caution.

The next morning, I winced as I rolled out of bed, each movement amplifying the searing pain from the fresh welts on my back. I bit my lip, stifled a groan, and gingerly pulled on my clothes.

The front door slammed, and I exhaled shakily. Father was off to the bar, leaving me a few hours of reprieve. I limped to the kitchen, each step a battle, and managed to prepare a simple breakfast. My hand trembled as I lifted the fork, the food tasteless in my mouth.

I couldn't stay in this house. The library beckoned, a haven away from my torment. I stuffed a few essentials into my backpack and left, the door creaking as if protesting my escape.

At the library, I found solace in a quiet corner, When You're Home by Abby Millsaps in hand. The book's tale of best friends turning into lovers transported me far from my reality. I clung to the words, imagining me in a world without pain.

Hours slipped away unnoticed, but reality crashed back when I stepped through the front door. My father loomed, eyes alight with fury.

"Where have you been?" His grip on my arm was iron.

"The library," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

"Liar!" He flung me against the wall, the impact rattling my bones. "You were trying to run away."

His hand struck my face, sending me sprawling. I struggled to my feet, vision swimming.

"Get up," he growled, unbuckling his belt. "You need to learn to stay under my roof."

He dragged me to the basement. The dim light flickered ominously. The belt sliced through the air, each strike reopening old wounds, the pain blinding. I bit my lip, but a scream tore free.

Eventually, he left, slamming the door behind him. I lay on the cold floor, body shaking, tears mingling with the blood on my face. Crawling upstairs, I locked myself in the bathroom, the cold shower water a cruel but grounding relief.

Dressed, I curled up on my bed, every movement agony. My phone buzzed with a new message. Dread filled me as I read Amy's words:

"Elio, you should just disappear. No one wants you here."

I shut off my phone and reached for a safety pin on my desk. Hands trembling, I pressed it against my arm, the pain a twisted comfort. Tears flowed freely, soaking the pillow.

Night fell, and I stared at the ceiling, the pain in my back, a relentless reminder of my father's cruelty. My classmates' harsh words echoed in my mind, a chorus of despair.