Stranger, Help Me

BEFORE

"Hey Evangeline. I'm leaving in fifteen minutes to pick you up. So your father agreed to meet you?"

"...yeah. Step-mother said I'm leaving in a week. Is that okay?"

"Of course. We're almost done with the room. Mum's going crazy. Elliot's gone to talk to your step-mother's attorney right now to get the things sorted."

"Okay."

"Want me to buy some chocolate for you?"

"Chocolate? Really?"

"Yes, yes really."

"Are you sure?"

"All is good."

"I'll taste your favourite."

"Ah, lovely choice, madam!"

"...a-and some m&ms for Cooper and Tammy. Is that okay?"

"It'd be my pleasure."

"..."

"Okay, what's wrong? Why did you call?"

"..."

"Evangeline... You can talk to me."

"My father hates me, doesn't he?"

"No, he-"

"Otherwise why would he...he keep giving me scars, making me bleed? He loved my step-mother and Tammy was his favourite. I would still get beaten then, it's been happening since I was ten... Maybe younger? That's what I told the authorities anyway. Social services almost put me in another home when I told them the step-mother knew and let me get beat up."

"Oh..."

"Over and over he'd yell how useless I was and when my step-mother left, he took it all out on me. I fell unconscious just like you found me. Tammy didn't do anything; she was little and too scared. I couldn't blame her. But one time, just like you heard when you ...visited, he said the only reason I'm alive is because of my mother. The woman who gave birth to me. I want to know who she is and why. Why did she leave to let me suffer?"

"Evangeline..."

"I'm so scared of him but I ... I care for him. I worry. I don't want him to hate me but I know he does. He does because I look down and all I see on me are scars and cuts that'll never fade and bruises from weeks ago and -and I just I can't deal with this I'm so scared why just why!?"

"..."

"I need answers..."

"And that's why you're visiting him. I'll be with you."

"Sometimes I forget you're not an adult."

"Adults aren't always the best people, you know. Age doesn't matter. It's the way they cope with things that help them help others cope."

"..."

"I'm not making sense, am I?"

"You have interesting views, Gale. How many times must I thank you?"

"You don't need to-"

"But I want to. You helped me so much, even when I said I hated you and acted terribly."

"And you knew your mistake. That's good enough. I have to go now, but I'll see you in four hours. Express Town, still, I see. I'll be in your step-mother's porch before you know it, Evangeline."

"...okay. See you soon."

"Bye!"

"Bye..."

Beep, beep...

"Why don't you tell him that you lik-"

"Cooper, shush!"

Evangeline placed her hands on her red cheeks and let slip a smile.

"I told you!" The boy jumped on her lap excitedly.

"Cooper!"