Stay Alive

1

She got into the car with 7 year old Harry breathing hard. How could she let this happen? It's her sister's son, her nephew, but still. How? By jealousy and revenge and all the other sins she could think of. She let him beat him, she even encouraged it from the sidelines. The taxi man is now giving her strange looks. She never wanted this, it is not her fault! Right?
Please God please let Harry live. Please
"Auntie?" Comes the silent yet strangely calm voice.
She looks down on him to see his big emerald eyes staring in a daze at the roof of the car. 

"Yes Harry?" She thinks this is the first time she called him by his real name. It was always better to think him nothing more than just the boy. Made what Vernom's abuse feel right.
"Not Harry silly. Still boy." Her chest clenches. When did it get like this? She laughs nervously, a little of her heart jerking. "Oh, I'm sorry Boy. What is it that you want?"
"Do you think my mommy and daddy will accept me?"
She is taken aback.
"What are saying little boy? Of course they will accept you."
"Really?"- his eyes widen with excitement-"but you always said that they died because they hated me. I don't think they would want me anymore."
A tear fell from her guilt.
"Silly one. Just forget everything I said okay? They love you. They really love you. So much Harry. So much." Her sobs were racking her body, even more when she heard Harry say boy. She took one hand from under his head and wiped her tears, giving an ugly snort of snot. "Hey little boy?" She softly called out. A hym was her response. "Do you remember how I taught you how to count to ten on the piano?" This was when she did care for Harry. He was only a toddler, learning how to speak and showing his gifted abilities. It was before he started outstanding Duddely, making her remember when Lily always showed her up. Mommy always loved her. She remembers so clearly the first time she slapped him. He came home with a 100 on his test while her Duddely had only a 67. He grinned a toothy white smile, so happy and innocent. Then she took it away in one swift slap to the face.  That was when the abuse started.
"I would always change the tune." He whispered.
"I know. You would always change the tune." The tears were waterfalls now. She took a breath.

"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten." She sang in their old tune, hearing his laughter and Dudley's crying in the back ground.
"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten." He repeated in the same melody.
"Good. One, two , three, four, five, six, seven-"
"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven...."
"-eight, nine-"
His voice stopped. His voice stopped.
She looked down to see his eyes glassed over, staring peacefully at her. The emptiness of those once brilliant green eyes haunting her.
"Nine...nine...ten."

She screamed.