Flowers and Thorns (Dirk Strider x OC)

Sunday Nightmares

*(Warning, this chapter hints at emotional/mental abuse by a parent. You have been warned.)*
Iris's P.O.V.

      Today was Sunday, the only day of the week when I don't have a job to go to. To reiterate my work schedule: I work Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at the club with the queens. Tuesdays and Thursdays are when I work at a small family diner. Finally, Saturdays were art gallery days. All in all, I love my Sundays. They're calm, quiet, and I have them completely to myself; most of the time that is.

      I sat up in my bed. It was warm and soft, the way it always was. The walls were a creamy beige, just like they always were. The clock displayed the time in bold red numbers, just like it always did. I was alone in my apartment that I've had since sophomore year, just like I always was. There was no mom stomping down the hall screaming at me to get up. No pressure to dye my hair back to its original color. No pressure to be perfect. No pressure to take over the family business. No one trying to force me to fit in.

      'It was a nightmare' I tell myself. 'There's no mom here'. I needed to calm down. I needed to breathe.
Breathe...
Breathe...
Breathe Iris...
Breathe...
I said BREATHE DAMMIT!
      I could feel hot tears finding their ways down my cheeks and off my chin to drip onto my comforter- staining it dark with sadness and fear of a singular person.
      'There's no mom. You're safe. There's no mom, it was a dream. There's no mom, you're safe.' I told myself mentally, over and over and over again.

                                                                'There's no mom, you're free.'