“Katharine, I said you can go,” Dr. Drewall says for the third time.
I heard him every time, but I can’t allow my body to move. How can I go home?
“Come on Katharine,” Logan says lightly in my ear, softly tugging my arm. My legs mechanically carry me out the doors into the dark night. “I told my mom I was walking home,” Logan tells me.
“You don’t have to,” I quickly reply.
“I want to,” he puts significance behind those words, and I can tell he really means it.
We only get a few blocks towards my house before I am in Logan’s arms, with tears threatening to spill over and create a waterfall down my cheeks. I can’t hold them back, and silent sobs escape my lips. Logan comforts me, but even he knows he can’t stop whatever I am awaiting. He pulls me over to a bench, the bench we sat on together the second night I met him. This is our bench.
“Shhh,” Logan mumbles soothingly as he wipes my tears away with his thumb. He tilts my chin toward his face so I can look him in the eyes.
I can tell he wants an explanation, but he’s not going to push me. I know that I will eventually have to tell the story, so I pull myself together and prepare to let it out. I shakily tell Logan, “Ever since my dad died, my mum hasn’t been the same. To escape the pain, she just goes to the bar and drinks. When she returns, she takes her anger out on whatever she can, which is usually me. Most nights, I can get to my room in time. If I don’t, I never know what to expect. Sometimes she’s fine, and sometimes she just goes mad. But having the principal call, well that’s never helpful. And, I mean, you heard her scream. I’m scared. But there’s nothing I can do about it, so.. whatever.”
Logan pulls me into a tight, friendly hug, whispering, “I’m so sorry,” every so often.
“Don’t tell anyone,” I plead, “she’s all I have left.”
He nods and silently walks me home. “You’ll be okay,” Logan says as I enter my house. “I’m here for you.”
YOU ARE READING
The World is Ugly, but You are Beautiful to Me
FanfictionKatharine is a lonely sixteen year old girl, with a passed father and a grieving mother. Her mother's drinking problem doesn't help, and neither do all of the bullies at school. Katharine thinks her life is pointless-- until she meets Logan. Can he...
