when loving lies // h.s

chapter 13

"I'm sorry I didn't call sooner. I've been incredibly busy trying to make enough money to pay rent in this new apartment," he laughs nervously.

"No, it's okay. I've been quite busy myself," I reply, trying my best not to break down again.

"Are you alright, Emma?" his concerned voice breaks the silence. He always knew when something wasn't right with me. No matter how hard I tried to hide it. The tears begin to form in my eyes, a sniffle being heard.

"No," I confess "my time here so far has been the worst, Tyler," I admit to him with sad eyes.

"Awe man, Emma. Please don't cry. It's gonna be okay," he assures me. I missed him more than life. He had always been my safe place. A caring shoulder to cry on. Without him I had no one.

"It's not. I miss you, Tyler," I croak, an audible sigh is heard from him.

"I miss you too. You know what, If you can just make it through this month for me, I'll come see you for Christmas," he persuades and my heart settles. I feel a sense of relief wash over my whole body.

"Okay," I agree.

"You know how intolerable mom and dad are to me. So, I'm doing this for you, you know," he chuckles and I can't help but laugh.

"I know," I say genuinely. I did know. They had been terrible to him in the past.

"Alright, Emmy, I have to go. I'll talk to you soon, okay?" He says, my heart growing heavy again.

"Okay, I love you," I call through the phone.

"I love you too," and with that, the line cuts out. I take in a shallow breath. I don't know if I could make it a whole month here alone anymore.

...

As I finish my nightly routine a knock is heard at the door.

"Come in," I say flatly. My mom slips through the cracked door. I am oddly relived. She sits down on my bed without a word as I lay at the head of it.

"Honey, why did you run away?" She questions in a genuine tone.

"Mom, I just want to be treated like a human. I know what happened to me was beyond terrible but it's in the past. I just want to forget about it and live my new life here. No one seems to understand that," I explain, fanning my burning eyes. I didn't have the energy to cry again.

"Amelia," she sighs and I know what's coming. "We treat you like a human, you just don't understand. What you went through wasn't only traumatizing for you but for us too. You're our daughter. We had to go through the scare of almost losing you to that asshole of a boy. We're only protective because we care," she gives me the same speech she always does.

"Being protective and overbearing are two totally different things. I should be able to experience my life," I say for what feels like the one hundredth time this year.

"Sorry honey I can't let you get hurt again," she shrugs, with that she stands and leaves my room without another word.

I bite down hard on my lip, tasting the blood as I roll over onto my side. The tears began to flow again. I begin to taste the salty drops and they stream down my face.

...

My eyes shoot open to the sound of my alarm. A slight groan escaping my mouth as I shut it off. I was exhausted from all the crying. My eyes burned and my body ached. Not to mention, I had circle for change after school.

After dragging myself around the room to get dressed. I ended up wearing leggings and a hoodie. I was in no mood to dress up.

My hair goes up in a bun before I grab my things to leave. I walk down stairs to find my parents at the table.