The Fade

Chapter 5 - B

Realising the time, I quickly jump out of the bath and throw on some clothes despite my damp skin. Pulling the plug out of the tub, I begin to throw my clothing into a single suitcase, leaving behind all my pictures and memories.

Shoving my wet hair up into a bun, I slide my feet into a pair of white sliders and grab the handle to the suitcase. Pulling it behind me I head out of my room, not looking back as I drag the suitcase down the steps to the front door.

I reach for the handle, ready to leave and start a life with someone I trust, when the door flies open in my face. My eyes widen as moms smile instantly drops upon seeing me, anger flashing in her eyes.

"You have a lot of explaining to do." She firmly snaps.

Her eyes flicker to the suitcase at my side, realising instantly what I'm doing. The anger vanishes, and just like her son she peers at me with pleading eyes. My weakness is my heart, I forgive too easily and I trust too openly, mom always said that I should toughen up if I want to survive college.

"Sweetie, whatever it is...we can talk about it." She breathes, smiling hopefully at me while remaining in my way of leaving.

"I don't want to talk, mom." I say softly, not looking at her.

"Baby please, you don't need to leave. Is it Alex? Has he hurt you again?" Her voice cracks with pain, caused by me.

My heart aches, twisting inside my chest, telling me not to do this to her. I refuse to look her way, knowing I'll break the second I see her crying. Tears fill my eyes for the second time today, my bottom lip trembling.

"You say again like it's normal, mom. He shouldn't hurt me at all." I croak out, my voice cracking. She's not your mom, Ronnie.

Even as tears brim her eyes knowing I'm right, she doesn't tell me the truth, she doesn't tell me why Alexander has violent urges. She still defends him, because he's her son. Yet she doesn't defend Severus?

"Sweetie, Alex is having trouble with his anger, he needs you more than ever." She whispers softly, pleading with me to stay.

My heart twists with pain, and I look away from her as my tears fall. Alexander is the suffer is silence type, he's never mentioned struggling to me. Has he kept me in the dark so I didn't worry? Or to further hide me from the truth of what they are? What I am? Doubts swarm my mind, torn between believing them and walking away.

Alexander has lied to me, everyday for eighteen years, so have our parents. Leaving for a while is what I had planned to do, to take some time to deal with my thoughts and feelings. Alexander needs me, he's always had my back whenever I've needed someone, he's always helped me no matter what mood he's been in, even if we've had a fight, he's always the first one there.

"Will you tell them about this?" I sniffle, my eyes on the floor as I gesture to my suitcase.

"No, not if you don't want me to." Her voice is hoarse with tears, and pain, relief.

Nodding my head I wipe my face and eyes, sniffling back the tears. My heart aches deeply, knowing I may never even see Severus again. The pain fades a little as mom wraps her arms around me, and just like that I forget about the lies and betrayal. She's my mom, and they need me, I can't just leave them no matter how much I know I should.

"We're going to talk about this, when you're ready. But please, never leave without saying anything again." She whispers to me, heartbroken that I vanished for three days.

A single tear falls from my eyes, and I nod into her warm shoulder. Severus is warmer.

Pulling away from her, I take my suitcase and drag it back up the steps, each step away from Severus breaks my heart a little more. This will hurt him, only serving to prove why he's closed off.