One Shots SJ & EO x daugther

51 - Stutter - SJ

Lea is 9 | scarlettxdaughter

1330 words :)
TW: none

requested by: 

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Lea burst through the front door of her house, her small backpack dangling from her shoulders, tears streaming down her face. She slammed the door behind her and ran straight to the living room, where her mom, Scarlett, was sitting on the couch with a script in her hands. Scarlett immediately looked up, her face shifting from concentration to concern as she saw her daughter's tear-streaked cheeks and trembling lips.

"Lea, sweetheart, what happened?" Scarlett asked, her voice soft but urgent as she quickly put the script aside and opened her arms.

Lea didn't say a word. She rushed forward, burying her face in her mother's chest, sobbing so hard that her small body shook. Scarlett held her tightly, stroking her hair in gentle, soothing motions. She knew that whatever had happened at school today had shaken her daughter to the core.

They stayed like that for a few moments—Scarlett's arms wrapped protectively around Lea, and Lea's sobs muffled against her mother's chest. When Lea's crying slowed down, Scarlett gently pulled back to look at her daughter's tearful face.

"Lea, honey, can you tell me what's wrong?" Scarlett asked softly, brushing some of Lea's blonde hair away from her face. "What happened at school today?"

Lea tried to speak, but the words caught in her throat. Her stutter had always made it difficult for her to speak when she was upset, and now, with the weight of whatever had happened pressing down on her, it felt impossible.

"I-I... I-I..." Lea's voice quivered, and her lip trembled as she struggled to push the words out. Her eyes brimmed with fresh tears, and she shook her head, feeling the weight of frustration pile on top of her sadness.

Scarlett could see the pain in her daughter's eyes. She knew how hard Lea worked every day to speak through her stutter, and how much it hurt her when people didn't understand. Scarlett gently cupped Lea's face in her hands and kissed her forehead.

"Take your time, sweetie. It's okay. I'm right here," Scarlett whispered, her voice calm and steady, the same way she had always spoken to Lea when she struggled with her speech. She knew that pushing her would only make it harder.

Lea sniffled, taking a deep breath to steady herself. She wiped at her eyes and tried again. "T-the k-kids... m-made fun o-of m-m-me..."

Her voice broke, and the words came out choppy, but Scarlett understood. Her heart clenched. She had feared this day would come—the day when Lea would face cruelty because of her stutter. Scarlett's eyes softened, and she pulled Lea into another hug, holding her tightly as though she could shield her from the world.

"I'm so sorry, baby," Scarlett whispered into Lea's hair. "I'm so, so sorry that happened."

Lea clung to her, feeling the warmth and comfort of her mother's embrace. She didn't need Scarlett to fix it, not right now. She just needed to feel safe again.

After a while, Scarlett loosened her hug and led Lea to the couch. They sat down, and Scarlett kept her arm wrapped around Lea's shoulders. "Do you want to tell me more about it, or would you rather take a break and talk later?"

Lea hesitated, her fingers twisting in her lap as she tried to gather the courage to explain what had happened. Finally, she spoke, her words still halting but clearer now. "W-we w-were i-in m-m-music class... a-a-and we h-had t-to r-r-read lyrics o-out l-loud."

Scarlett's heart sank further. Reading out loud had always been a difficult task for Lea, especially in front of her classmates. The pressure often made her stutter worse.

"I-I t-t-tried, M-Mama," Lea continued, her voice cracking. "B-but I c-couldn't g-g-get the w-w-words o-out. A-a-and the o-other k-kids l-l-laughed at m-m-me."

Scarlett's chest tightened with both sadness and anger. She hated that her daughter had to experience something so painful. "Oh, honey, I'm so sorry. You didn't deserve that. It's not your fault, Lea. Never think that."

Lea blinked up at her mother, tears still glistening in her wide blue eyes. "B-but I w-wanted to s-say the w-words r-right... I w-wanted to b-be like e-e-everyone e-else."

Scarlett hugged her tighter. "You don't have to be like everyone else, Lea. You're perfect the way you are. Your stutter is just one small part of you, and it doesn't change how amazing, kind, and talented you are."

"But e-e-everyone m-makes fun o-of it..." Lea whispered, her voice filled with doubt and sadness.

Scarlett's heart ached. She wished she could take away all of Lea's pain, but she knew that all she could do was help her navigate through it.

"You know," Scarlett began softly, her voice gentle, "there are so many incredible people in the world who have had a stutter, just like you. People who went on to do amazing things, even though they had challenges with speaking. Winston Churchill, one of the greatest leaders in history, had a stutter. James Earl Jones, the voice of Darth Vader, had one too. And they didn't let it stop them from achieving great things."

Lea listened, her eyes wide as her mother spoke. "R-really?" she asked, a small glimmer of hope in her voice.

"Really," Scarlett nodded, smiling gently. "And you're just as special as they are. Your stutter doesn't make you less. It makes you unique. And the people who really care about you—your family, your friends—we love you exactly as you are."

Lea sniffled, her tears slowing as she absorbed her mother's words. Scarlett continued, her tone soft but firm. "What those kids did today wasn't okay, and I'll make sure your teacher knows about it. But I also want you to know that you're so much stronger than you think. Speaking up, even when it's hard, is brave. And you're one of the bravest people I know."

Lea looked up at her mom, her lip quivering but no longer in frustration. She felt a warmth growing in her chest, something stronger than the hurt she'd carried home with her. "Y-you really think s-so?"

Scarlett smiled, brushing a tear from Lea's cheek. "I know so. You're my brave, smart, and wonderful girl. And nothing anyone says can change that."

Lea leaned into her mother's side, feeling the safety and comfort of her warmth. Scarlett stroked her hair, letting the silence between them settle, a moment of peace after such a hard day.

"M-Mama?" Lea asked quietly after a while.

"Yes, sweetheart?" Scarlett replied, her voice still soft and soothing.

"D-d-do you think I'll ever b-be able to t-t-talk without s-s-stuttering?"

Scarlett paused for a moment, her heart heavy with the question. She wanted to give her daughter a hopeful answer, but she also knew that stuttering didn't always go away. Some people grew out of it, and some didn't. But that didn't mean it would hold Lea back from anything.

"I don't know, sweetie," Scarlett said gently, choosing her words carefully. "But what I do know is that whether you keep your stutter or not, you can do anything you set your mind to. It won't stop you from being whoever you want to be. And even if it stays with you, that's okay. You'll still be Lea, my wonderful, strong, brave girl."

Lea nodded, resting her head against her mother's shoulder. The sadness hadn't disappeared completely, but it had softened, replaced by a sense of calm and love that Scarlett had wrapped her in.

"Thank y-you, M-Mama," Lea whispered, her voice small but steady.

"Always, sweetheart," Scarlett whispered back, kissing the top of Lea's head. "I'll always be here for you."

They sat together in silence for a long time, Scarlett's arm around Lea, and Lea's small hand resting on her mother's knee. The world outside seemed distant, the hurtful words of her classmates fading away in the warmth of her mother's embrace.

And in that moment, Lea felt safe. She knew that as long as she had her mother by her side, she could face anything, even the things that scared her the most. Because no matter how hard the day was, Mama always knew how to make it better.

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published: november 8th