Fracture

CHAPTER FOURTY NINE

*TW: MENTIONS OF SELF HARM AND SEXUAL ASSAULT*

❊-♡︎Scarlett♡︎-❊

Walking into my house after the massacre that was tonight, felt almost as horrible as walking on glass barefoot.

I could hear a commotion upstairs so I followed the noise with Patrick and Claire close behind me.

My mam was standing outside of Gerard's room with her head in her hands and Keith was behind her looking as pale as a ghost.

Johnny was inside the room along with Gerard whose dress shirt was covered in blood. He was holding a giant shard of broken glass in his hand.

My heart leapt into my throat at the sight. He was hurting so badly.

And I knew exactly how it felt.

Hughie came barreling up the stairs seconds after the three of us, his face contorted in distress.

"Scarlett," His voice broke.

"Not now," I shook my head, needing all the attention on my brother.

He deserved everyone's love.
I didn't.

But that didn't stop Hughie from pulling me into a hug.

"I'm sorry," He whispered before releasing me from his grasp.

I could now see Gerard in Johnnys arms, trying to be talked down.

"Oh god," Mam was crying, "Gerard, is it true?"

Unable to speak, Hughie spoke for me, "What do you mean is it true? Of course it's fucking true, Sadhbh! Look at him."

"Gerard!" Claire was wailing, falling against her older brother.

Anxiety was coursing through my veins and I could feel a panic attack coming on. And all I wanted was to pick up a blade and numb the pain.

It had been months but the urge was almost crippling.

"It's okay," Patrick wrapped an arm around my shoulders and pulled me to his side, "I'm here."

"I can't do this," I swallowed hard, trying to hide my pain.

"What do you need?" Patrick asked quietly, "Do you want to leave? Because we can leave."

"The Gards are on the way," Mam choked out.

"I can't leave," I bit down on my lip as hard as I could, "I need to make a statement to the Gards."

It was then that my mam noticed me, her arms immediately moving to wrap around me.

"Oh, pet," She cooed, "Did you know about this? Is it true?"

I knew she had no idea that I had gone through the same things.

And I wasn't going to make it all about me, so I kept my mouth shut.

Refusing to take away from Gerard's pain.

"I didn't know," I forced out, "I had no idea, mam."