Befallen childhood- Adopted by Hamilton

-30-

Lins POV
"Esme." I say, the second I see her in another kitchen. "Esme!" I scream.

"Lin." Liv says. But not the one I see. I know it's a dream and I know that she's in the room. But seeing her makes it all seem real.

"Esme, no!" I say, running down the hallway after her she holds the knife to her neck, staring in the mirror.

"Lin, wake up." It's Vanessa. I can't wake up yet. I stare at her staring at herself with a knife to her neck. I can't touch her. I can't stop her. I can't help her. Can I now?

She drops the knife but stares forward.

"I hate you." She screams at herself. She runs back out of the room. I shoot up and awake.

"Lin. What's wrong?" It's Vanessa.

"Where's Liv? I know shes was in here."

"I told her to go to her room."

"Olivia's real name is Esme."

"She told me."

"And I can see her life in my dreams sometimes."

"Lin-"

"I'm not joking. This sounds crazy but- but she's confirmed them all. I can fill in blanks. Liv." I stand. "Olivia!" She comes running over to the door. I beckon her over and we sit down.

"What was it now?"

"You didn't tell me you put a knife to your throat."

"It was a year ago."

"I need to prove to Vanessa that I see this stuff."

"How?"

"Ask me questions about the events."

"Um, okay. What was I wearing."

"A red tank top and black shorts."

"My hair?"

"In a ponytail."

"What color walls?"

"Yellow."

"Shower curtain?"

"White."

"I kept this Liv." I say, grabbing a notebook from the drawer next to my bed. "Sorry I didn't tell you." She looks at it. I wrote the dreams down. I look at Vanessa.

"I don't understand how."

"Neither do we."
-
"Vanessa, I shouldn't be here. I should be with Sebastian or writing."

"You have plenty of time for that. This is important."

"Is talking to you not enough?"

"It's not. I'm a lawyer, not a phycologist and I will always listen and try to help but some things are beyond me. Is talking to us enough for Liv?"

"Liv's has a traumatic past."

"And you're always trying to help her but now I'm worrying about you."

"You don't have to. I'm finally getting her to talk to me. I'm happy about this."

"Because you saw something she wishes you didn't. Please, Lin. Try three sessions."

"Fine." The door opens up.

"Hey, Liv. How'd it go?" She shrugs. "Ready to go home?" She nods as Vanessa puts her hand on her back.

"Is Lin coming?"

"No." I say. "I'm going in myself for a little while. But I'll be back by dinner." I wave and go upstairs to meet with first her therapist, and then mine.
-
Liv's POV
"Is he stressed because of me?" I ask.

"He likes taking care of you. He's just talking to someone that can help him help you the best he can."

"Why do I feel like that isn't true. I don't want to call you a liar. I just want to know he's okay."

"He is. And you are great. So don't think that you're causing any trouble."

"Thanks, Vanessa."
-
"You guys ask about Olivia, a lot. I don't blame you." I say propping my phone up on periscope. "She's around twelve." More questions pop up. "Yes, she speaks Spanish. I didn't teach her though. Hopefully she doesn't mind me talking about her. Probably not but she's shy." I read the questions again. "I do get to hear Liv sing, 'cause she's here almost every day." Some more people ask more. "No, she doesn't sing full songs, at least not around us, so you're not missing out on that. Hold on, I got a text. From Liv. She's watching me. Hey, Liv, do you mind that I'm talking about you?" A moment later, a text shows up.

"She says, tell them to ask about you instead." I'm just a boring kid. I don't read that out loud. I know she'd kill me and I wouldn't even if she would be okay with it. "No Olivia. They wanna know about you too." I read another. "She's downstairs drawing I think. Hey, Liv, get up here." I talk for another two minutes and answer questions.

"I brought you a child." Pippa says.

"Thanks, Pippa." She closes the door with Liv in here. "Yay, you can ask her stuff yourself."

"Wow. You can see questions." She says as I pull her into my chair. "What's the hearts?"

"Someones new to periscope."

"How do you even read that fast."

"Takes practice. I'll help." I read a few in my head as the flash by. "How did you hurt your hand?"

"How do you know that?"

"The lotto." I say. "You had a cast on."

"Oh. I fell down the stairs. Better now, though. I didn't write or star in a musical or a few. Ask him stuff."

"They already did. Your turn. Is Sebastian like your little brother?"

"Yes. He's adorable."

"Can you sing for us? Actually she can't."

"Lost my voice at four in the morning. I sound like a dying whale."

"On Broadway you would have to. Just kidding. You're a kid. " I read another question. "Why were you up at four?" She laughs.

"Did you sleep at all?" I ask her.

"Two hours."

"I walked into the kitchen at four and she was sitting at the counter with three pages typed on her computer. When I asked her at ten at night, she said she had nothing typed." She shrugs.

"It's due tomorrow."

"See, I'm not a horrible parent. She was doing homework." I read again. "What's my favorite song in the show? 'Kay their done with you. Get out of here." I say to Liv. "Just kidding." I answer three questions with her reading and listening. Suddenly I see a growing amount of comments about Liv looking sick.

"She had a cold yesterday." Comments on her low weight come. "Can we move away from that, guys? She's reading these. She's literally right next to me and on screen."

Is she anorexic?

"What's your favorite subject?" I make up a question.

"History." She knows it wasn't there. "Have you studied Hamilton?"

"Slightly." Questions start to change and a few apologies come. Liv says that it's fine but I doubt it is as okay as she says. At least the first while was fun.