you are loved

six.

We returned home, and all they could talk about was that waiter. I didn't even catch his name, but they seemed to like him.

"Lee! That boy was pretty cute, huh?" Mark teased. I wanted to die, is this what all teenagers had to go through? The poor guy was just trying to do his job, and I made it so much worse. Was it worth it though? I got the attention I get from all of them, they all give the same reaction. At least something was familiar.

They stopped talking to me after I didn't respond, and kept their conversation between the two of them.

Back at the house I went straight to my room. I didn't want to think anymore. I just wanted to feel numb. I got out my phone, asking around if there was a party anytime soon. Some responded that there would be one on Friday, but I couldn't wait until then. I needed to get wasted today. Living with Mark and Andrea was already like living in hell, but going to church tipped me off the edge.

Since no one responded in the way I wanted, I decided to take a bath. Maybe that would help me get out of my head. I had always hated being alone, but I just needed a space to feel encompassed before the attacks started hitting me again.

I went to the bathroom and drew the bath water. The loud rushing sound of water hitting the bathtub was music to my ears. I heard a faint knock on the bathroom door. I walked over to the door to see who it was.

I saw Andrea standing there. "Hey Lee." She smiled thoughtfully.

"Do you need something?" I asked coldly. She continued to smile.

"Mark and I were gonna watch a movie before your grandparents got here, I just wanted to see if you'd like to join."

It was an intriguing thought. I hadn't really sat down to watch a movie in a while, but I really needed to be alone before the cavalry arrived. "I'm gonna take a bath before they come, maybe next time." I closed the door and returned to my bath to wallow in self pity.

. - . . - - - . . . -  .  - . .

"Is that Galilee?! You've gotten so big!" My grandmother fawned, coming to give me an uninvited hug. She wrapped her arms around me, all I could do was squirm. My body wanted to shrivel up and crawl in a hole, I hated this. Before I could even react. she planted a kiss on my cheek, and let go.

My grandfather, right behind her, gave me a warm smile. "Hello Galilee."

"Hi Grandpa." I replied as normally as I could manage.

He ducked his head and whispered, "I know you don't like to be touched, so we'll save that for later."

I smiled gratefully, and he continued on into the kitchen with the rest of my family. I somewhat wanted to be back at Ingrid's house with my obnoxious cousins coming in my room asking me for something for the one millionth time.

Kermit strutted over to me. The sound of his collar came to a stop as he sat and began wagging his fluffy tail in front of me. He looked like he was smiling at me. I rubbed the top of his head. "Hi buddy."

I walked away into the kitchen with Kermit following suit.

As the adults talked for hours on end, I just wanted to leave. This was already over stimulating me; along with the enormous amounts of food I had tried to consume, I was feeling sick. I left the table to sit on the couch to maybe get this pressure off of of my head. It was all so much for me.

"So, Galilee," My grandfather started. I turned to face him, my stomach turning inside out from the immense amounts of foods. "How has school been?"

Now I wanted to throw up. "It's been okay, I guess. You know, school is school." I tried laughing, but the food I had consumed tried coming up.

Grandfather laughed. "I get that, although I loved school when I was younger. Especially when your grandma transferred. School was the best part of my day."

I couldn't anymore, my insides were about to explode. "I apologize, I need to use the restroom." I ran to the bathroom and locked the door. I opened the lid to the toilet and dry heaved. I gripped the sides of the toilet as best I could. I dry heaved a couple more times, and nothing came up.

Right when I sat down next to the toilet, everything began to come up and it all came out into the toilet. My body shook with the amounts of trauma. My throat burned and my stomach muscles were in pain. I was so weak. I shakily stood to flush the toilet and wash my hands.

A knock came from the door. "Give me a minute."

Grandfathers voice came from the other side of the door, "Galilee, are you alright?"

I finished cleaning myself up and opened the door. His face was concerned, like someone had killed his dog. My body was too tired to fight. My vision became blurry and I fell into his arms.