Fates Cruel Hand

Mine?

Today was the day my bed came.
I sat quietly on the chair in the living room, furthest away from the delivery men who were coming in and out of the flat holding various parts of the bed.
'You alright there kiddo?' Matty asked for the thousandth time. I nodded and buried myself further into the blanket surrounding me.
I felt the chair dip a little before arms wrapped around my body. I couldn't help but flinch a little.
'Shh. It's just me.' He spoke softly. I knew it was him. Who else would it be. I just couldn't help the reaction my body gave. 'Don't worry they'll be gone in a couple minutes, then we can set up your room how you want it with all the items we brought yesterday. How's that sound?' Matty asked.
I just nodded. We had gone shopping yesterday for clothes and items for my room, but I hadn't really been all that interested to be honest. I didn't want him wasting his hard earned money on me. I didn't deserve it.

True to his word the delivery men were gone within the next 5 minutes and as Matty closed the door behind them I let out a sigh of relief, my body relaxing even though I hadn't realised I'd been so tense.
'Right kiddo, shall we get started?' Matty smiled in my direction before holding his hands out for me to take.
I nodded again and got up, keeping one had on the blanket and the other holding Matty's. We walked silently into my room, neither of us speaking, but it wasn't awkward.
We had already painted the walls blue, one wall a darker shade that the other three. The bed now sat under the window on the far side of the room like I had chose. Reluctantly. I didn't know how I felt here. It was a weird feeling. I had never had my own room. I didn't know whether I liked it or not, but I guess time would tell.

We spent the next few hours putting my clothes and other such items away in the correct places, Matty explaining what they were and there uses. I felt utterly stupid. I didn't know anything and it hurt. I had missed so much of life and I just couldn't catch up. There was no getting back the 16 years that I had spent with that man who was supposed to look after me. The man who was supposed to love me unconditionally. The man who was supposed to be my father. When mom was there life had been different. I had gone to school, I had friends. I had been happy. But then she left when I was 4 and that's when it all started going downhill. I shuddered and whimpered at the memories.
'Zane? Are you alright bud?' Matty asked as he came and sat next to me on my bed.
'Scared.' I whimpered.
'Why? What's wrong?' Matty cuddled me into his chest as he pulled me onto his lap. For a 16 year old boy I was way smaller that I should be. Probably due to the lack of care in my life until now. 'Don't be scared. Can you tell me what's scaring you?'
I tried to piece the words together in my head so that I wouldn't sound completely stupid but that frustrated me to no end.
'Hey hey, don't do that. You'll go bald.' Matty shushed me as he detached my fists from my hair, stopping me from pulling it anymore. 'Now, tell me what I can do to make you feel better.'
I whimpered before clutching his shirt in my fists. 'No go.' I whispered, tears already lining my eyes. 'No like alone. No leave. Please.'
'Oh kiddo. I told you already. I'm never gonna leave you alone again. Here, look at this.' He said as he pulled a wad of folded papers from his pocket. 'These here show everyone that you are under my care from now on, until you become old enough to live on your own. But even then you don't have to leave until you feel ready. It's called adoption. I've become your legal guardian and I'll do my very best to ensure that you have the best future possible.' Matty explained to me.
'No one take from you?' I asked, staring up at him in awe.
'Never.' Was his reply before he squished me against his chest in a tight hug.
Warmth bloomed through my chest at the affection and love I was receiving. The tears that I had held back fell down my cheeks. But for the first time they were tears of joy, not fear.
'Thank you.' I sobbed, clutching onto him impossibly tighter. 'Love you.'
Matty chuckled, 'love you too kiddo.'

We remained like that until a yawn broke the silence.
'Is someone tired?' Matty questioned and I just nodded.
I was exhausted and I hadn't even done anything. It was probably all the emotions that ran through my body each minute.
'Come on then. Have a nap before dinner yeah?'
I just nodded again, my eye lids already falling shut.
Matty chuckled softly as he lifted me off his lap and into my new bed. He pulled the blanket from my hands and replaced it with the marshmallow duvet before a whimper could even leave my lips.
'Rest well kiddo. I'll be cooking in the kitchen if you need me, okay?' Matty kissed my head as I nodded and sighed in content, letting my eyes close and drifting away into a peaceful sleep.