His reasons are always the same. One slap, because I was a mistake. Two kicks, because he's stuck with me. Three punches, because in his eyes I'm a disgrace, and lastly, the final knockout hit because I'm the reason why his life was destroyed.
• • •...
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The moment I walked in the house, I saw Gemma pacing in the living room - a tired Evangeline (Jackson's mother) trying to calm her down.
Gibson was waiting out in his car for me, while Jackson and Noah were still on their way here in a separate vehicle.
The two women barely noticed me entering, until Evangeline heard the door click shut, "Erin! Good, you're back" she said.
Gemma froze, her attention snapping over to me, "Erin! Thank god." she said, practically sprinting to give me a hug, "See,I told you everything would work out."
I tried to muster a smile, "yeah... um, not really..." she sent me a confused glance which I responded with "I'll explain in a minute, I just... I gotta get something first."
Gibson didn't take me here because he was letting me say goodbye, he took me here to pack up my belongings. It was just lucky that Gemma happened to be here instead of at the station with Tasha.
As quickly as I could, I tossed as many of my clothes into a suitcase that could fit. Grabbing a smaller duffel bag for a couple pairs of shoes and items like my phone charger and earbuds.
I heard the front door swing open, followed by a surprised yell from Gemma. With a sigh, I grabbed my bags and shuffled down the stairs.
I could make out the hasty explanation of my situation from Jackson and Noah being explained downstairs, but as I stood at the bottom of the stairs, staring at the door; I couldn't focus on anything but how I was leaving my whole life behind.
Jackson, Noah, Gemma, Tasha... Mason...
I just got past a rough patch in my life. Things were finally looking up, and now I have to throw all of that away?
"Erin..." Gemma whispered, her mouth hanging agape as tears brimmed her eyes.
I sniffed, wiping my eyes as a blurriness covered my vision. I hadn't even realized I was crying until that moment. I dropped my bags, meeting her halfway.
She wrapped her arms around me, sobbing along as I tried to form a single intelligible sentence, "I don't have a choice," I hiccuped, "I'm sorry."
She only held on tighter.
Then the front door opened, and then an irritated Gibson marched in. He noticed my discarded bags, then what I was doing and sighed.
"Alright, time to go," he said, grabbing my suitcase as he tapped his foot impatiently on the floor.
I turned back to the people I've begun to call my family. Jackson and Noah didn't waste a second before joining in on our hug.
