The bruised and battered

Chapter thirteen

Faye closed her eyes and felt arms around her waist prohibiting her from jumping.
She opened her eyes. "Alex." She whispered.
He pulled her down and pulled her into his lap. "I'm here Faye." He said softly and held her in his arms. "I'm here."
Faye couldn't fight back the tears. Her body was shaking. "Why couldn't I do it? Why couldn't I force myself to go?" She asked softly.
He wiped her tears. "Because you didn't want to. I need you Faye. Keren needs you." He said and pressed his lips to her forehead.
Faye closed her eyes. "I can't stop thinking about how happy my family would be without me."
"Faye They would fall apart. Your mother was tearing apart the office. Your father had to bring her home before she did something she regretted."
Faye shook her head. "They don't love me. They would only suffer a little without my in their business."
Alexander saw a car pull up. Her parents got out. "Ask them."
Faye clenched her fists and shook her head. "I've heard enough lies." She said softly.
"Faye please let me talk to you." Her mother said and knelt down in front of her.
Faye wiped her tears away and looked away. "I can't hear it." She said softly. "I can't do this."
Her mother sat down. "Hush now, don't be scared."
Faye looked at her. "The lullaby-"
"I sang it to you when you were a child. When you couldn't sleep. Or you would have a fever." Her mother said.
Faye shook her head. "You never cared about me."
"I say that but don't you remember? I would always sing to you. When it was just us two. I don't know why I said all those things. You never deserved to feel like you didn't matter. I guess I was so jealous that I tried to get myself to hate you. I tried to make you believe I hated you."
Faye shook her head. "You treated me like I was the biggest mistake in the world. And you made everyone else believe it too."
Her mother nodded. "I know. But you're not. After I realized I would never see you again then I realized how horrible I treated you. You never deserved that."
Faye shook her head again. "I can never forgive you."
"I know. But please don't leave. This world needs you Faye. They may not know it yet but it's true." She looked at Alexander. "Bring her home. Take care of her." She handed him a card. "Get her the help she needs." She said and stood up. "I don't hate you. I won't lie and say I love you like my daughter but no one would ever be able to hate you Faye." She said and walked to her car.
Faye watched her parents drive away.
She stood up. "She's lying. You can see it in her eyes." She said softly. She looked at Alexander. "I'm done with them."
Alexander stood up and and took Faye's hands into his. "If you feel that is best then I'll help you hit please don't ever leave me or scare me like that again." He said and kissed her forehead. "Let's go home." He whispered.