Ember Firina

The fight

TRIGGER WARNING! This part contains cursing, homophobic answers and slight abuse. YOU'VE BEEN WARNED.

Chapter 3: the recount
A wave of dread and anxiety crashed on Ember, she gulped and open the door to the living room where her parents were sat talking. "M-mum... Dad... I-I have something to tell you..." She admitted sheepishly, her heart beating loudly in her chest. The walls seemed to be closing in and her parents eyes seemed to be piercing through her. "Of course! Go ahead!" Her mum smiled comfortingly, but Ember knew it was an act, like a crocodile seems before it snaps at its prey. She takes a last deep breath "I'm pan... Pansexual..." Ember replied and looked at her feet, avoiding her parents looks. Her parents shared the same look of confusion "Sorry?" Her dad asked very confused. Ember took another breath. "It means I'm attracted to all genders. Male, female, trans, non-binary. Anyone..." She keeps her gaze down and doesn't look at her parents reaction. Her mother gasped, her father stood up sharply. "No! Y-you're just confused. It's not so. You're not attracted to them. You just think you do. I'm not tolerating this if it's a joke!" Her father roared aggressively, clearly shaken. Her mother took a breath with tears in her eyes but stayed eerily silent. "I'm not confused. It's real. I'm still me. I'm a person. YOUR daughter. It's genetics!" Ember cried, her voice shaky. Her eyes filled with tears but she kept strong. Her father went red with rage then slapped Ember's cheek. Ember screamed and the tears spilled. Her mother shot up and hugged ember tightly. "Harold! Don't you ever hurt our daughter again! She can't help it, she's still our daughter! I'll love you no matter what Ember!" Her mother kept hugging Ember, both mother and daughter crying together. "OH FOR FOR FUCKS SAKE. SHE'S CONFUSED! SHE'S NOT PAN. SHE'S NORMAL." Shouted Ember's father and more tears spilled out of Ember's eyes. She ran up to her room and collapsed onto her bed and sobbed into her pillow.
A couple days later her mother had been getting ill, severely ill. They took her to the hospital and they diagnosed her with cancer. They all were shocked but they were determined to help her get back to health. But it was no use. Years later, she died. Ember was destroyed. She couldn't think straight, (no pun intended) it seemed so surreal that her mother -the only one who supported her- was gone...
Her father was useless as always, cold and distant. Barely even talked to his daughter, except for this one day... "Good morning special snowflake." Mocked Harold as he patted Ember's head aggressively. She mumbled back "morning..." As she continued to finish her cereal. "So. Still 'pansexual'? Of course. Disgusting..." He said patronisingly. Ember held back a retort but had to. "Still a shitty dad? Of course!" She replied snarkily. She bit her lip as she knew she was going to pay for that one. "DON'T SWEAR AT ME IN MY OWN HOUSE. YOU HEAR ME? DON'T. EVER. SWEAR AT ME. AGAIN." He yelled loudly as he hit her harder than ever before. Ember cried out in pain and burst out crying. She ran to her room and packed up her bag. She texted Celina; the only good person left in her life, asking if she could stay there for a day or two. Celina agreed and Ember ran downstairs. "I'm going to a sleepover at a friend's house. Bye!" Ember shouted quickly and she bolted to the door. "OI, STOP RIGHT THERE!" Her father screamed in protest as he also ran towards her. She quickly slammed the door shut before he grabbed her and panted as she ran down the street in the pouring rain.