His Only Savior | #Wattys2019

Chapter 17

Everything inside me felt numb as I laid tucked away under the covers.  Darkness inching out of the shadows draping my room in its velvety texture as it did every night.  When I began to find a place of serenity in the silence that spread throughout my home my parents' voices grew nearer.  My door was closed but I could hear every word exchanged.

"Honey please calm down."

"Calm down?  You just told me she has bruising around her neck like she had been strangled."  Although I couldn't see him, I knew his teeth were clenched.  "You found her in the middle of her bedroom crying uncontrollably!  How am I supposed to remain calm?"  My dad was never good at hiding his emotions, his confusion and anger over the situation was clear.  After everything I had been through in my life, he felt the need to protect me from all the ugliness that existed in the world.

"I don't know but barging in there demanding answers isn't going to help anyone.  I don't even know what happened she won't talk to me.  She has refused to eat or drink anything all day.  I finally got her to take some of her meds a few hours ago but they have only eased the crying.  Our daughter is hurting and for the first time in my life I don't know how to help her."

The door to my room creaked open, the light from the hall pouring in.  My dad poked his head in, "Hey kiddo can we talk?"  I simply nodded allowing him access.  He strolled over and sat on the bed beside me pulling me into his lap.  "I don't know what happened, but I want you to know you can talk to me, to us."

My cheeks were stained with the tears I had cried hours before.  "D-dad," I buried my face into him as my chest tightened.  The words shaking as they rolled off my tongue.

"I'm right here sweetie, I always will be."  He smoothed my hair before pulling me up so he could examine the bruising that had formed.  When he finished, he cradled my face in the palm of his hands pleading for me to open my eyes.  "Talk to us.  Please."

My eyes opened allowing a single tear to make its great escape.  "Why can't anyone love me?"

My mom had been standing in the doorway when her body tensed at the question, knowing exactly what it was in reference to.

"You are loved honey; your mother and I love you and so does Becca."

"I know, b-but not even my real dad wanted me."  My heart felt as if it was turning to dust, my biggest fear was being abandoned and Isaac knew that better than anyone.  "Why doesn't he want me?"

"Your father was a coward that couldn't provide you and your mother with the love you both deserve.  I know I'm not him, but I promise to never leave you.  Either of you."

There was a sudden sensation of thorns in my throat as it flexed.  "Not him, Isaac."

"Isaac?"  His eyes widened, stunned by the mention of his name.  "What do you mean Isaac?  Did he do this to you?"

"It wasn't his fault, it was mine."  My chest shook as violent breaths found their way in and out of my lungs, tears once again streaming from my burning eyes.

"I'm going to kill him," he gently set me to the side before standing.

"Woah, hold on!"  My mom pleaded as she placed her hands on his chest keeping him from doing anything rash.

"Hold on?  The son of a bitch choked our daughter."

"Making a scene isn't going to help anything, and it most certainly isn't going to help Emily."  My mom reached for Gabriel's hand before leading him back to my side.  "Honey, you need to talk to us, or we can't help you."

"It wasn't his fault," I choked out again.  "He was having a nightmare, I tried to wake him up and he snapped.  It was like he was somewhere else.  Like he couldn't see me."  My words rushed out in a panic, as angry as I was with Isaac, I didn't want my dad to do anything to hurt him.  Even if I felt he deserved it.

My dad bit his bottom lip, it was his nervous tick whenever he needed to think.  There was a long silence before he finally spoke up, "Why was Isaac here?"

"He needed somewhere to stay," I said simply.  Although I wanted to tell someone who could help him with the abuse taking place in his home, I respected him enough to keep it a secret.

"Why?"  His voice was harsh, but I knew he just wanted to understand.  Just like my mom, Gabriel had always been my strength when I needed it.  We may not be family through blood, but we were family through bond.  The love we felt for each other ran as deep as the love my mom and I shared.  He was the kind of father every little girl needs in their lives.  Someone who protects them fiercely yet seeks to understand them.  Someone who is patient and kind. Someone you can't live without.

"I can't tell you."

"Well why the bloody hell not?"

"Gabriel," my mom said firmly, a clear warning for him to take a breath.

Locking eyes with my mom, he took a long breath in and forced it out quickly.  "I get you want to protect him, I really do.  Your mother and I remember how close you were and how you felt about him."

"It's not about that, I just— it isn't my business to share.  I helped him because he needed it.  Yes, I have feelings for him, strong ones, but that isn't why I helped him.  You should have seen him," I paused to think over my next words.  "He is just as broken and lost as me." My words were steady, the emotion behind them clear, we were both broken.