Broken Home

XXVI

Connor

I followed Dad, walking past nurses and doctors and people in wheelchairs. It was so late, and I was so tired. He looked so angry, I could smell alcohol on his shirt. He tightened his grip on my tiny hand, making it feel even smaller. We walked further down the hall as I pointed at the room he was in.

"Over there." I pointed.

He walked faster, slamming the door open.

"Dad!" I shouted, watching him grab poor sleeping Ashton by the shoulders, waking him up by shaking him violently.

"You." He sneered.

"M-Mr. Jafleck." Ashton stuttered, looking absolutely terrified.

"You better not show up in my house again, you dirty little-"

"DAD!" I yelled, cutting him off.

"Don't even come near my neighborhood. You're a bad influence on my daughter. Go back to your band mates, little emo freak." Dad spit in Ashton's face.

"Papà! Lascialo solo!" I yelled.

"Connor, andiamo. Non voglio vederti con lui mai più, mi senti?" He let go of Ashton and grabbed my hand, walking towards the door.

"No! I'm staying!" I said in English so Ashton would understand.

"Let's go!" He shouted in my face.

I pulled my hand out of his, and backed up into the hospital bed.

"It's okay, Connor. Just go." I heard Ashton say from behind me.

"No. I'm not going to leave you alone." I turned around and told him.

"Connor!" Dad yelled.

"NO! I WANT TO STAY WITH ASHTON!" I yelled at the top of my lungs.

"What's going on in here?" A nurse with cute pink hair came in the room, hands on her hips.

"YOU ARE COMING WITH ME RIGHT NOW, CONNOR!" Dad grabbed my arm, and started pulling me to the door.

"NO!" I felt like a child holding onto the bed with my other hand, pulling myself back.

"HEY!" The nurse yelled, trying to get Dad's arm off me.

"DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH ME!" Dad yelled at the nurse.

I felt like curling up into a ball and hiding in the pocket of someone's old jacket forever. Dad suddenly let go, making me fly backwards and into Ashton.

"Bene! Essere con lui! Non tornare a casa mia mai più, Connor!" Dad yelled, angrily stomping out the room.

"You okay, honey?" The nurse walked up to the bed.

I realized I was laying in Ashton's lap. He had his arm wrapped around my waist, as if I was going to fall off the bed. Embarrassment rushed through my veins as I stood up, Ashton silently keeping his eyes on me the entire time I apologized for laying on him.

"I'm so sorry." I said for the millionth time, beginning to cry.

"No, no, no, don't cry." He said in a sing-song tone, opening his arms for me to hug him.

"I'm sorry." I sobbed, falling into his arms.

"Don't cry." He stroked my hair softly.

"I should be the one soothing you." I told him, standing back up.

"What was he saying?" He changed the subject. "Why does he hate me?"

"I don't know." I said, wiping my cheeks with the tissue the nurse gave me.

"He shouldn't have been yelling or touching you like that. You're a beautiful young lady." The nurse said, fixing up my hair. "Was that your father?"

"Yes."

"He really shouldn't be doing that. How old are you, darling?" She asked me.

She looked around 25 or 26.

"19."

"Do you go to college? Oh, I remember those old times." She smiled.

"Yeah, but I'm in winter holiday right now." I said.

"When are you going back to school?" She asked.

"January."

"Oh! Lucky you." She pinched my cheeks, making me giggle.

I heard Ashton chuckle behind us.

"So how are you, babe?" She asked Ashton.

Babe?

"Fine." Ashton responded as the nurse poured him a glass of water.

Ashton thanked her, and drank it all with two gulps.

"You were thirsty!" The nurse chuckled.

"Ashton?"

"Yeah?"

I stood in silence, contemplating if I should ask him. The room fell silent. The nurse awkwardly left, giggling a bit as she left.

"I'm sorry about Bryana." I finally said.

He looked up at me and frowned.

"She must've been an absolutely amazing girl for you to hurt yourself for her." I said.

"She was. I'd do anything to get her back."

"Anything?"

"Anything."