Broken (Edited edition)

Mrs. Fischbach

The plane dips, and I'm asleep when we land.  Mark has to carry me off the plane, and I wake up in his arms while he's walking through the airport.  I lift my head up a bit, and he chuckles."  Hey sleepy head, you finally awake."  He says, and I nod into his shoulder.  We're at baggage claim, and he sets me down so he can grab our bags.  I rub my eyes while pulling my bag onto my shoulders, and yawn while trying to wake up a bit more.  Mark comes over, and he hands me his carry on.  I hold it while we walk, and he pulls our bags behind him."  Are you hungry?"  He asks, and I nod."  Can we get some food?"  I ask, and he nods."  Sure, what do you want?"

"Something warm and sweet."  I say, and feel my mouth watering."  Well they have cookies and coffee?"  He suggests, and I nod.  We walk up to a coffee shop, Mark buys two cups of coffee and cookies.  We sit down on a couch in the café, and eat our food.  I take his hand in mine, and he just smiles at me.  I'm glad we did this, I'm glad that I get to meet his family.  Because if I didn't, I might not get to meet the true Mark that I know and love."  What's wrong?"   He asks, and I shrug."  I'm nervous.  I'm scared.  I'm terrified actually to be honest."  I say, scratching my fingers across my cup."  Why?  Why are you scared?"  He asks, and I look down."  What if they don't like me?  What if they just look at me like an animal?"  I ask and he sets his coffee cup."  Lyca...."  He says, and gives me a concerned look."  I don't want to be seen as some weirdo who can't even go outside without a long sleeve."  I say, and feel myself tremble for a moment."  I know you're scare, and I know it's scary to meet people you've never met, but my Mother and Brother can't wait to meet you.  Thomas is going to meet us here in about ten minutes, and he can't wait to meet you.  I've already explained to him your situation, and what you've been through, and he wants to get to know you."  He says, and smiles at me.

I look over at my food, and see that I've eaten a little bit of it.  I stare at him, and feel an aching pain in my ribs.  I rub them a bit, and Mark asks if I'm okay."  Some pain, but I'm okay.  I promise.  Can we go meet Uncle Thomas?"  I ask, smiling at him.  Mark grins, and says okay."  Alright, come on."  He says, and we get up.  We still carry our coffees, and I pull one of the suitcases behind me with Mark's bag on top of it."  You good?"  He asks, smiling while we continue to walk to the front of the airport."  Of course, you?  I could carry at least another two hundred pounds.  I did have to carry my drunk brother from bars most nights."  I say, and he grins."  Yeah, I'm still good."  He says, and I smile.

We get to the front of the Airport, and a car honks.  We look over to a white Cadillac, and see a man get out of the driver's seat.  Long black hair, black beard, and the same colored eyes as Mark.  He smiles at us, and Mark hugs him tightly."  Hey big brother."  He says with a smile, and pats him on the back.  Thomas hugs Mark back, and I stand there in the background watching them."  It's been too long since the last time you visit.  Mom's so excited to see you and...."  He looks over Mark's shoulder, and looks at me.  I give him a weak smile, and stand there with my hands in front of me."  Thomas, meet Lyca Fischbach, your niece."  Mark says, and gestures for me to walk closer to them.  I do, and look up at Thomas."  Hi."  I say really quietly, and he just stares at me in astonishment."  You actually did it little brother, I didn't believe at first.  You saved this little girl's life."  Thomas says, and I bite my tongue so I don't cry.  Thomas bends down in front of me, and puts his hand on my shoulder."  It's nice to meet you Lyca, I'm your uncle."  He says, and tears drips down my face.

He hugs me close to him, and just smiles at me while hugging me."  It's nice to meet you baby girl."  He says, and continues to hug me.  Mark comes up behind Thomas, and wipes my eyes with a tissue.  Thomas lets me go, and takes my face into his hands."  You're so beautiful."  He says, and wipes the rest of the tears off my face."  Come on, Mom can't wait to meet her.  She's probable going to yell at us for being late when we get to her house."  Thomas says, and I help him put the bags in the trunk.  I get in the back seat of his car, and Mark gets in the passenger seat."  Now if Mom asks about why Lyca doesn't wearing shorts or T-shirts, just tell her she doesn't like to."  Mark says as Thomas starts driving."  Can I know the actual reason if I have to lie to my own Mother?"  Thomas asks, and Mark rubs his eyes under his glasses."  She has scarring from her abusive family, mostly from her brother.  And she scared to show them."  He says, and I nod.  There's still enough light outside that Thomas can see me through the mirror, and looks up at me every few seconds.