Stigma | KTH ✔

39 | Scars

I'M FINALLY BACK! I'm sorry for the delay but I will explain why in the author's note at the end, so please read that (':

I have to warn you that this chapter mentions violence. So if reading things like that affects you, then please read when you're in a good state of mind. I haven't gone overboard with the descriptions so I hope it will be safe to read despite that.

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"Dad's late again."

Mom smiles sadly at me, gently brushing away the hair covering my forehead.

"They're going through a hard time at his work, honey. It takes time to get things back to normal again," she answers with a sigh. Always the same answer.

"It's been a year mom.. Why can't he just find a new job?"

"It's not that simple.. I wish he could too, but times are tough right now."

"But why does he have to drink? He scares me.."

Her eyebrows curl up in concern, a layer of gloss now coating her eyes.

"He's stressed and worried, too. Unfortunately, that's his way of dealing with all this."

"That doesn't make it okay for him to shout at you and hurt you.."

She pulls me in for a tight hug, instantly making all the tears I was trying to hold to slip out.

"As long as he doesn't hurt you, I can endure it."

I sniffle. "I wish I was older and bigger so I could protect you."

She chuckles. "It's okay, Taehyungie. You're my strength. We'll get through this together-"

The sound of the front door slamming shut echoes through the house, making her stop mid sentence along with my heart freezing in fear.

She looks straight into my eyes. "I love you, Tae. Don't come out of your room, okay?"

I try to say something but my tongue is tied, throat clenched in panic. She gets up and closes the door behind her.

"Please don't slam the door, Taehyung is sleeping," I faintly hear her voice speak. I sometimes wish the walls weren't so thin, then I wouldn't hear them fight. But I wish even more that dad goes back to how he used to be. I can't stand seeing mom being treated like this for one more day.

Please... Anyone... Please let my mom be safe...

"Last time I checked, I'm the owner of this house so I can do whatever I want!"

The loudness of his voice makes me flinch, heart beating even faster. It's going to be one of those nights again.

"Don't yell! Why did you go to the bar again? You said you'd stop."

"Why would I listen to you?! And I can talk as loud as I want!"

With shaky breaths and trembling body, I reach for the door and pull down the handle, only opening the door enough to hear them better.

"Why do you have to be like this? You're tearing our family apart!"