Sweet Angel

Chapter Twelve - Trouble at Home

Kiyomi slunk into the house, feeling a mixture of shame and relief. She hadn't expected to be gone so long, but after the argument with her mother and Isabella, she needed to clear her head. As she entered the living room, she was met with the stares of her mother and Isabella, who were standing over a spread of her "little" items—stuffed animals, pacifiers, and colorful blankets.

"Isabella, what is this?" her mother demanded, her voice a sharp, accusatory edge that cut through the air. "Why do you have these things spread out in front of everyone?"

Isabella stood with a smirk, arms crossed. "Mom, you should see what Kiyomi's been hiding. It's not just a phase; it's a sign of something deeply wrong. I thought you'd want to know."

Her mother's eyes narrowed, and she rounded on Kiyomi. "Is this true? Are you really so immature that you need these... these toys to feel safe? What's wrong with you?"

Kiyomi's heart pounded in her chest as she fought back tears. "It's just a way for me to cope. It's not hurting anyone."

"Not hurting anyone?" Isabella's voice was laced with scorn. "It's making a mockery of our family. Look at you! You're a mess. And now you're dragging us all into this absurdity."

Kiyomi's mother, clearly agitated, paced the room. "I've tried to be patient, Kiyomi. I've tried to understand, but this? This is beyond what I can accept. It's not just embarrassing; it's disturbing. What are people going to think?"

Isabella chimed in, her tone dripping with false concern. "Maybe it's time we get you some help, Kiyomi. Professional help. This isn't something we can just ignore anymore."

Kiyomi's tears began to flow freely, her face flushed with a mix of humiliation and anger. "I don't need help. I just need to be accepted for who I am."

Her mother's face hardened. "Accepted? We're not going to enable this behavior. It's time for you to grow up and face reality."

The argument continued to escalate, each word a blow to Kiyomi's already fragile sense of self. Her mother's and Isabella's harsh words cut deeply, and it became clear that there was no room for understanding or compassion.

Feeling overwhelmed and desperate, Kiyomi made a split-second decision. As her mother and Isabella continued their harsh verbal assault, Kiyomi grabbed a few belongings in haste, slipped out the door, and fled to the boys' house.