Broken (Edited edition)

Worried Parent

Danny was still holding me when I wake up, rubbing my back gently as I sleep against his warm body."  She's so tiny."  He whispers, and he lays me down somewhere.  He places a blanket over me, then I hear him sit down.  Someone else sits down near where Danny sits, and they let out a deep sigh."  Alright, talk.  What's wrong?"  Danny asks, not whisper but using his full voice."  Hush Dan, I don't want to wake her."  Mark says, and I grin a little bit.  That butt."  I don't care if I wake her, talk!"  He says, and Mark grunts.  My eeys are open, and I can them both out the side of my eye.  We're in my bedroom, I can tell by the softness of my sheets and pillows.  They're sitting at my desk, in the rolly chairs.  Danny is sitting closer to me, and I feel his hand on my waist.  He's rubbing gently, feeling me breathe as he thinks I sleep.

Mark sighs loudly, then grunts."  Fine, okay.  Okay."  He says, and I see him rub his hands together."  I'm um...real scared."  He finally says, and let's out another sigh."  I'm just...real scared.  What if something happens again?  Or what if something small happens?  Like her period?  If we had been alone, and her privates her bleeding, I would've rushed her to the emergency room.  Then I would've looked like a dumbass in front of a lot of people.  My mom never taught me about a period, neither did my girlfriends.  They never said anything about their period when they were on it.  What about when she starts dating huh?  How am I suppose to explain what's right and what's wrong?  Do I just tell her what I know?  I barely know anything!  And...and what if she gets pregnant?  How am I suppose to deal with that?  How am I....?"

"Mark, Marko!  Hush bro.  First of all, you weren't alone during her period starting.  So you don't need to worry about that anymore, it's already over.  You had Suzy, you had us.  We were able to help, and we were able to make sure it wasn't anything serious.  It was just her period.  Second of all, Lyca will probable not be dating for a long time.  So you'll have time to teach her the rules of dating.  If she brings a boy home, not like Robbie who's gay, but a boy she likes, you set the rules down to her after he leaves.  Like if he tries to touch her sexually without her permission, tell the principle and dump his ass.   Or her ass, we don't know what Lyca likes yet.  Finally, Lyca's not gonna get pregnant.  She was sexually abused, so she won't have sex maybe at all.  So your okay.  Mark, Lyca's a smart little girl.  She knows how to get through things, even if you're not there to teach her the ways of Markimoo.  So just relax dude, you're a great parent.  You're a great mom and dad.  You feed her, you help with her homework, you clothe her, bath her, help her with her injuries, help her with problems at school.  Trust me Mark, you're a good dad."

Mark is silent for a little bit, then I hear what sounds like laughter.  It's Mark, laughing.  But then, the laughter slowly turns to sobbing.   I see Danny put his hand on his shoulder, and I hear him hush him softly."  Hey , it's okay.  You're a great Dad, you will get her through the hard times.  I know you will."  He says to him, and I move a little bit.  They both stiffen a bit, and hush each other."  Quiet, I don't want to wake up my daughter."  Mark whispers, and Danny chuckles.  I start to smile, a genuine smile that hasn't been on my face in a very long time.  They both continue to sit, and I see them staring at me."  She's just...she's so beautiful.  How can someone abuse her?  I don't understand that?  What type of monster hurt an angel like her?"  Mark asks Danny, and Danny just shakes his head."  Mark, you have to realize something.  Sometimes there are people who are just plain evil, and you can't help them no matter how hard you try.  I'm sorry to tell you that, but that's how it is.  I'm sorry."  Danny says, sipping his drink.

I finally have had enough listening to them, and sit up.  I look over at them, and rub my head."  Ouch."  I say, feeling an ache that wasn't there before."  Hey, sweetie.  Good to see you up, are you alright?"  Mark asks, quickly wiping his eyes as he sits down next to me on the bed."  Yeah, just my head hurts a lot."  I say, and he smiles at me.  He carries me downstairs to the kitchen, and he sets me down on the counter.  He opens up the freezer, and grabs an ice pack.  He sets it where I tell him hurts, and holds it in place."  Did you sleep well?"  He asks, and I see it's dark outside."  I slept alright, not that well but better than usual.  What time is it?"