Lucy Langston
"Is there anything else you need to show me?" I ask her sternly.
She looks around the room as if searching for a way to escape.
"Hazel..."
"Nothing else" she admits. I don't believe her.
"Come on Hazel, let me help you. Is there anywhere else you hurt yourself?"
"Nowhere else grandma. Just my hands. Trust me" she says exasperated.
"Fine. Then sit down, and calmly very calmly explain me your problems. No yelling, no screaming. We were given mouths to speak not scream right?"
"Ok fine. I can't promise I won't lose my temper" I nod her to continue.
"Well, I already said most of it. I just wish dad was more...dad than just a person built on rules. I wish we could go on picnics like a family, I wish I could have fun with my dad and my friends and you. I wish I didn't have to be a robot around my own dad"
"Okay...I can understand the way you feel. I'm sorry that we neglected. I understand your father but I'm sorry I was the same too, I should've been more watchful towards you. Either way we'll work towards a better tomorrow.
It's just....Hazel your father had a tough childhood.....I mean which one of your friends fathers are 24....that's absurd itself. And there's so much more your father is struggling with. So it might be hard for him to see everything all the time. He did his best since he's had you.
It took me, your grandma three months before he trusted me enough to let me talk to you. He was there for your everything. He thinks it's easier if you can live by rules so it won't complicate stuff. Which father loves to watch their kids hate them? Hm?"
"I don't hate him...." She mumbles.
"You do say that you do....very often. He might not express it..but there's never a second when he's not worried about you both, not a second when he thinks about himself, it's always Hazel this Katie this Katie that, did Hazel finish her lunch, is she asleep, is Katie sick is she fine. Hospital visits with the little money he has, trying his best to buy you whatever you guys need...I'm just asking you to understand him a bit more. If you have problems like this, sit down and talk. Losing your temper won't help anyone okay?"
"Why did he adopt me then? I never asked him to adopt me and I don't know...struggle and torture others too" she says.
"Hazel....honey...I think it's better if you talk it out with him. Ok. Do that once he calms down"
"Okay..I'm sorry grandma. I didn't want to act like a spoiled brat....i was just...too self absorbed. I'm sorry"
"Don't apologize to me dear. Go and say that to your father. You both are meant to be, just find a better way to bond? K?"
"Alright..thanks grandma. I love you" she pulls me in.
"I love you too Hazel" I smile.
~~~
Rome Taylor
He was out of touch with reality. His eyes are ghost-like, and he was just going along with what I made him do. I somehow made him get into bed but he just stared at the ceiling without blinking.
I was really scared. It was one of the scariest moments, when he held me by my collar with that fiery look in his eyes. I thought he would kill me. My last foster family was like that. Scary. Everyone was scary...and I never thought I would experience that feeling once more. From my crush. Wow.
I go and wash my face and try to calm down my heartbeat. It was beating way too fast. Otis appears behind me out of the blue and I flinch harshly. Breathe Rome. Breathe.
He looked better. His eyes were focused on me right now. His eyebrows frown as he looks at me from top to bottom.
"I'm sorry" he says with a blank expression on his face.
"Uh. Oh. It's fine, I was just...washing my face it was you know quite hot in your room so uh" I stammer. He places a hand on my chest and pulls me in. I try not to shiver and crumble in anxiety.
"Breathe with me Taylor. In...slowly...out...you're doing very well. Come on, let it out. It's fine...I won't hurt you again. Let it out" he urges me.
With an overwhelming rush of emotions and the close proximity, I burst into tears. I was breathing but it's so hard. It is so scary. He is so scary. My parents were very scary. I'm scared. Too scared.
"Please don't hurt me, please....I'm really sorry, please just" he takes a few steps back as I continue begging.
"I'm far away from you Taylor, far away. I'll never hurt you ever again...hm? Come on look at me. I'm so far I can't even touch you. There's no one else here. Do you want me to call Lucy?" He asks calmly. I nod vigorously as he disappears outside.
Within seconds Lucy appears with worry in her wrinkled face.
"Oh dear lord" she pulls me in and caress my back as I continue sobbing.
"Shh...it's okay. He won't hurt you...shh it's fine" She cooes.
~~~
Otis Langston
Hazel bumps into me as I leave Lucy and Rome in the room, Rome curled into her sobbing.
"Oh hey dad" she says awkwardly.
"Hi sweetheart" I try to give a smile. Her words ring inside my head. What a pathetic father I am.
"Can we talk?" She asks. I widen my eyes in surprise but I nod nonetheless.
We go to her room and sit down. God, how long has it been since I'd been here?
"Dad was I adopted? Please be honest with me, I'm trying to understand this whole thing"
I open my mouth several times but end up saying nothing. I don't know what to say. Should I be honest? She's just a kid.
I make up my mind that it's now or never to fix this relationship.
"No sweetheart, you are not adopted"
She gasps as she looks at me for a good few seconds before she talks again.
"What? So I am your daughter?" I nod.
"Dad.... you're 24. I'm 15....that means....oh my god" she gets up and starts pacing around the room.
"That means YOU HAD ME AT 9!! OH GOD"
The cat's out of the box.
YOU ARE READING
Defiance
RomanceOtis Langston has just settled into his new house with his two kids and his mother. His kids are his motivation to live, he values them more than his own life. His mother is quite worried if he'll ever open up his heart again....well to answer her...
