Mental (Sturniolo's best friend)

6

I know I said I wouldn't put TW, but this one is a little brutal so..

TW: Abuse, hospitals, bone injuries, police, blood

Like I said. Brutal. Anyways, stay safe and enjoy!

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I found myself on the same front porch that I have been on several times before. I have had to escape my home situation many times before, but I never would share the real reason I was there. No, I couldn't ever burden them with my issues. That would be immature of me to think that they could fix all of my issues, but boy did I hope they could.

I knock on the door, my special knock. I had two knocks. One knock was just one knock on their door. The other knock was supposed to symbolize morse code for 'SOS', one quick knock, then three slow knocks, then one more quick knock. Only Matt knew this special code. If I used the special knock then he knew I needed to get away from my home and would beg and plead for me to be able to spend the night, not like Marylou ever said no. She loved me, like my mother should have. Jimmy and I would play board games if the boys were out. It was if so I had a second family, a family I was meant to be apart of buy my parents had to bombard this wonderful life I could have had. Instead of living with my best friends, I was forced to be in an abused household where I had to put my siblings health before my own, always protecting anyone from my father, including my mother.

Matt opens the door and recognizes the look on my face. He lets me in and I am greeted by my other parents, Marylou and Jimmy. Nobody compares to how much of a mother and father figure the two were for me.

"Hey sweetie! Are you staying the night again?"

"If I could that would be great."

"Of course, you are always welcome in our home." Marylou said. See? Comforting.

"And since the boys have practice tomorrow, we can play board games! Nick can join if he wants but I doubt he will since we always beat him." Jimmy says with the smile I recognize on all of his sons.

"I always love playing board games! I am going to go put my stuff in the guest room now. Thank you so much for letting me stay." That guest room, they designated that as my room. I just thought it was weird to say "my room" in their household.

"Okay sweetheart, we are having spaghetti for dinner."

"Lovely!"

Marylou's spaghetti was my favorite think on this planet, other than Dr. Pepper of course.

I begin to walk up the stairs when I smell the wonderful scent of the candle I had in my room. Who would have lit the candle though? Maybe it was Matt just preparing the room. I walk into the room to find nobody there. The candle was lit though. 

"I lit the candle for you." 

I turned around to lock eyes with Chris in the doorway.

"Don't scare me like that!"

"Sorry, I just wanted to come and check on you. You know when Matt came home the other day he said he saw you at the park." 

Oh fuck. Don't tell me Matt told him.

"I don't mean to barge in on your business, but I just wanted to make sure that you were okay."

"Thanks, but I am perfectly fine. Respectfully, I am exhausted. I have had a long day so can I please get changed into my pajamas."

"Yeah, sorry." Chris said as he exited my room.