ALEX | BXB

CHAPTER FOUR

*Trigger Warning: This chapter contains scenes that may be distressing for some readers, including sexual harassment, homophobia, and other forms of discrimination.

Alex sat on the floor, surrounded by the faded blue walls of their apartment, clutching his doll tightly to his chest. Kayla had given it to him, and he treasured it like a precious secret. He loved how the sunlight streaming through the window highlighted the doll's porcelain skin and intricately styled hair.

As he played, his mind wandered to his mom's warm smile and the savory smells wafting from the kitchen. His stomach growled in anticipation. But his peaceful reverie was shattered by his dad's thunderous voice.

"Alex, get in here now!" his dad bellowed, his words dripping with malice.

Alex's heart sank, and his fingers tightened around the doll. He knew that tone, that cadence. It never boded well. He hesitated, his feet heavy with fear. What had he done wrong this time?

As he reluctantly rose to his feet, the doll clutched in his trembling hands, his mind raced with worst-case scenarios. Would Dad yell at him? Would he take away his beloved doll? He felt like he was walking into a storm cloud, the air thick with tension.

"What's wrong, Dad?" he stammered, his voice barely audible.

His dad's eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing. "What's that thing you're holding?" he growled, his voice low and menacing.

Alex knew he shouldn't have had the doll. He knew it was a mistake. But he couldn't help himself. He loved it too much.

"It's just a doll," he whispered, his voice trembling.

His dad snatched the doll from him, his fingers rough and unforgiving. "Oh, you such a faggot!!What the fuck is your problem!!!" he sneered. "You're a boy. Boys don't play with dolls."

Alex felt a stinging sensation in his eyes as tears began to fall. He couldn't help it. He was just a kid. He didn't understand why his dad was so angry.

As his dad broke the doll, Alex felt a piece of his heart shatter too. He cried, uncontrollably, his body shaking with sobs.

His dad yelled at him, his voice a blur of anger and disgust. "You better shut that pie hole!" he shouted.

But Alex couldn't stop. He was just a kid, and he didn't know how to be anything else.

As the argument escalated, Alex's dad turned his anger towards his mom. "You're the one who's been teaching him this crap, aren't you?" Alex's dad sneered, his face red with anger. "You're the one who's been making him a sissy!"

Alex's mom, Jane, stood her ground, despite the fear in her eyes. "That's not fair, John. Alex is just a child. He doesn't know any better."

"Fair?" John repeated, his voice rising. "You're the one who's been coddling him, making him think it's okay to play with dolls and wear makeup."

Jane took a step back, her hands up. "John, stop. This isn't about Alex. This is about your own insecurities."

"Insecurities?" John laughed. "You're the one who's insecure. You're the one who's been cheating on me, aren't you?"

Jane's eyes widened. "What are you talking about, John? That's not true."

"Don't lie to me!" John shouted, his fists clenched. "I know all about your little affairs. You're a slut, Jane. A whore who doesn't care about her own child."

Jane's face went white. "How dare you," she whispered. "I've never cheated on you, John. You're just trying to justify your own behavior."

But John was beyond reason. John's fists flew through the air, landing with precision and force on Jane's face and body. He hit her with a closed fist, the sound of the impact echoing through the room. Jane's head snapped back, her eyes wide with shock and pain. She tried to defend herself, but John was too strong. He grabbed her hair and slammed her head into the wall, the impact sending shockwaves through her entire body.