Why Her?

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter 29 - Black Tears

Eyes still wide, black tears began to trail down Venus's cheeks as she stared at us both incredulously. Without hesitation, I wrapped my arms around her, but she couldn't hold me back. She continued to stare forward in shock.

"Please, come in," dad said as I pulled away, and he led Venus over the couch. I grabbed her backpack and the brown box she left on the front porch and dragged them inside.

"What happened?" dad pressed, sitting on the coffee table in front of her.

"There was a lot of yelling," she whispered. "A lot of fighting." She jerked her eyes up to his and bit her lip. "I thought he was going to hit me."

"Why would he do that?"

"He's pissed at me. Mad that Jack and I broke up, and I refuse to get back together with him." She shook her head quickly and brought her hands up to her head. "I can't take it with him anymore. He knows I hate him, but he still wants us to marry each other and correct me."

"Correct you?" dad asked, and I signed with him.

Venus scoffed. "He claims he doesn't support my life choices. Thought being with a rich man like Jack would give me a better life than the one I want, but nothing will make me happy unless I live life the way I was born to. He knows that," she whimpered. "But it doesn't matter. It's not what he wanted, so he'd rather kick me out then deal with me for the rest of his life. He disowned me."

Venus, I meant what I said, I told her, but she wasn't looking. She couldn't focus on anything but the air between us.

What did you promise her? dad asked.

That she can stay here as long as she needs to.

"Of course," dad stated, nodding firmly, and Venus jerked her eyes back at us. He patted her knee and stared into her eyes, making sure she was grounded in reality. "Venus, you are more than welcome to stay with us for as ling as you'd like. Do you need me to talk to him?"

"No!" she panicked. "He'll be so furious. I-I can't let him be mad at you guys. You've done nothing wrong." She buried her head back in her arms. "I didn't want to get you involved, but I didn't know what else to do."

"You made the right choice coming here," dad assured her. "We are here for you, okay? Cameron and I, we are not going anywhere. Whatever you need, we're here for you. You are welcome to stay here as long as you want."

Dad's phone rang in the other room. He tried to ignore it, but I nudged his shoulder and signed to him, I've got it from here.

Nodding, dad left the living room, and I sat next to Venus on the couch. Her eyes vacantly stared at the wall, and I was worried she was far gone. I slipped my hand over hers, and she quickly flipped it over to interlock our fingers.

"What kind of father turns his back on his only daughter...and doesn't care about her happiness?"

A crappy one, I wanted to say, but I knew that wouldn't help her.

She squeezed my hand. "You have an amazing dad," she stated as she looked at me. "You're really lucky."

I guess I was blessed in that department, I sloppily signed using one hand.

Venus finally chuckled, and I pulled her into my chest, hugging her this time. Venus wrapped her arms around my back and hummed. "Thank you so much for being my friend," she whimpered. "You mean the absolute world to me."

I'd always feel the same way.