Lovely » Zedward [Discontinued]

Chapter 39

"You see... Son, your mother and I, we argued. Quite a lot. And I know that you've heard us yelling and screaming at eachother, I really do. And I'm sorry you had to hear words that I never imagined I would ever say. Your brother... When your brother came home from school, he said that he found a liking to a boy. And when I heard him... Something inside of me snapped. I was raised by your grandfather, and he was against men who loved other men.. he told me it was wrong. That those people were a disgrace to society." Harry stayed silent, listening to his father intently. His eyes darted down to his lap, not looking into Desmond's eyes.

"And when your brother told your mother and I... Oh, son, I didn't know what came over me. I called him many things that he wasn't. I even told your mother he wasn't my son.. but I was blinded by your grandfather's words. He wasn't a man who showed love and affection to anyone. So when I grew up... I was just like him.. except I told myself I would be different. And I was. When you and Edward were born.. all I could think of was that I would do anything. Everything. To make sure they're happy and safe. I vowed to myself. That I'll do whatever it took." He paused.

"But thing is.. your grandfather's words got to me, son. A thing that I never told you.. was that he consumed too much alcohol on a daily basis. Your grandmother.. she always took the hits.. but one night.. she was gone. All of her things weren't there. There was nothing left of her. She left me. Alone. With the man who tortured me every single day.. but suprisingly, I still managed to finish highschool and ran away as well.." Harry glanced up, seeing tears in his father's eyes. "I'm so sorry son..I tried my best to be a better man. For your mother. For your brother.." Des sighed.

"For you.. but it was never enough. Your mother and I eventually got a divorce. And we both decided that your brother was going to stay with her, and you, were going to stay with me. We planned that you both could visit one another, but.. something happened. To your brother.." Harry didn't know what to feel. He didn't know whether to be angry or sad. Or happy that he was telling him the truth.

"Edward was.. something else. Ever since he was five, your mother and I noticed that. Because instead of boy toys, he'd say he'd rather read. And mostly stay inside. While you, on the other hand, loved to go outside and play with your friends. And when Anne discovered that he liked boys too.. she kept it a secret. From me and you. Because she didn't want us to judge Edward. She knew way before I did. And after we got a divorce.. that's when everything changed.. well. Almost everything.."

Harry felt mixed emotions. His anger was caused by the fact that his father was homophobic and had anger issues, while his sadness was because he was mistreated and that lead to a belief that blinded him from acceptance.

"Your mother told me to come to the hospital in Bradford. And when I got there.. I saw her sitting by the waiting room, crying her heart out. That was when she told me.. he hit his head a bit too hard on the ground and that affected his memory. He had memory loss. And to say that I was devastated was an understatement. I told you that he was sick and that you couldn't see him because it would've overwhelmed him if he saw you. That was before your mother died. I regretted everything. Because I knew I could've done something to help your mother and Edward." Harry hated his father. How could he have been so inconsiderate? Harry was absolutely infuriated as he said those words. Who in the right mind could do such a thing?

"But I didn't. Remember when I told you your mother died in a car crash?" The only thing Harry could do was nod, and stay silent. Desmond knew that his son wasn't exactly glad not happy to hear his explanation. And he understood why.

"She never died in a car crash, Harry. She was murdered." As the room fell silent, Harry could hear the distinct honking of horns, children laughing outside, and loud chatter. His words left Harry speechless. Des lied to him, after all these years?