She Hides Behind a Smile

The Descention

Natalie cried in the bathroom for the rest of the day, hiding from her friends. She heard people walk in and out the bathroom, some chatting with one another, and others speaking in her she had run out of the cafeteria. She had one thing she wanted to do, and that was hide herself from people. She felt like her entire world was crashing down on top of her.

Once the school day was over, Natalie slipped on her hoodie again. She pulled it down over her body, hiding her bruised arms and she kept her hood over her face. She walked through the emptying halls, and straight past her friends. They were sure worried about her, but mostly enraged at what they had seen done to her body.

She rushed home in silence, making sure to keep her face hidden underneath her hoodie. Once she made her 15 minute walk home, she stopped at the front door. Yet again, there were people at the house, including her ruthless and disgusting uncle. Natalie just sighed, and went inside, praying that today they were in the kitchen again.

She walked inside, careful on how she closed the front door. She began quietly treading towards her room, nearly tip toeing her way there. As she reached the stairwell, a hand firmly grabbed at her shoulder, and it made her flinch. "Oh Nat..."

It was her father. Natalie relaxed her tensed shoulders slightly, and turned to face him. For once, he was sober. Or at least, it seemed like he was.

"How was school sweetie?" He asked her gently.

"I-It was fine papa... thanks for asking." Natalie said softly. She held her head down, hiding her bruised face from him. But then she realised, why hide it? He sometimes bruised her up as well.

"Yeah... sorry about yesterday sweetie. I didn't mean to lash out at you the way I did." He said as he kissed her forehead.

Natalie wasn't used to this, but she rather preferred it over being hit. "Its fine papa... I'm used to it. Anyways, I'm gonna go to my room and catch up on some studying." She said softly.

Of course she wasn't going to study, she was just gonna go be alone with herself. She didn't like who she was at the moment. Or had been for the last few years. Her father, Edwin, gently rubbed her cheek. He wiped away her makeup, seeing the large and dark bruises.

"Maybe you should've put ice on that yesterday... how are your arms and everything?" He asked.

"Healing.. they're alright I guess." Natalie said hesitantly.

Her father heard the hesitation in her voice, but he wasn't about to bother her with it. He knew she was a soft spoken person, and he decided not to pry with her. That would only cause a bit of unwanted attention. "That's good." Her father finally stated.

He gave her head a gentle pat, and kissed his daughter on the cheek platonically. "If you ever want to talk about something worrisome, I'm still your father. Drunk or not, I will listen to my daughter." He said with a smile.

Natalie smiled a bit. "Thanks papa..."

"You're my daughter... it's my duty to make sure you're happy." Her father said. They smiled at each other, and her father gently pat her head. "I'm gonna head up to my room-"

"Wait, before you do. I have to tell you something as well." He said. His tone had become more serious than it had been before. Natalie froze. A great sense of dread overtook her, and it made her shiver entirely. "Your uncle Edward is staying with us."

Natalie's eyes widened, and she balled up her fists in her pockets. "O-Oh, okay. Are his sons moving in too?" She asked, trying not to show her distress.

"Yeah, your cousins are coming to live with us too. Well, you're living with them." Edwin sighed. "This is complicated..."

"What do you mean complicated, papa?" Natalie asked.

"Well... I'm leaving you in their care. I got a letter from the courthouse stating that I'm an unfit father, and they are right. So, your uncle will be living here with you, and I'll be moving into an apartment of my own in two weeks. I'm sorry Nat."

Natalie had turned entirely pale. "B-But I don.. I don't... I don't wanna stay.." Natalie was stuttering, almost as if she were shutting down. She teared up, but held a smile. "Nevermind.. I'm going up to my room papa. I'll come down later for dinner."

~~~~~~~~~~~♡~~~~~~~~~~

Natalie sighed softly as she made her way up to her room. She was near tears.

"I'll be fine, it'll be a okay. I hope." Natalie whispered to herself.

She sighed softly, looking out her window. Her eyes widened as she saw her uncle pull up. Her stomach felt heavy and knotted up.

"God why... why did I have to be related to such a suck fuck.." Natalie thought to herself angrily.

She watched as he walked inside the house, and she opened her window. She needed some fresh air. Just after she opened the window, she went to the door of her bedroom and locked it shut. She didn't want to be bothered by him.

"Natalie!" Her father Edwin called. "Come down and say hello to your uncle Edward."

Natalie grit her teeth against each other, and started tearing up a lot. She whined and sighed as she opened the door, and slowly treaded downstairs. Her uncle was standing with a large grin on his face, and opened his arms to welcome his niece. Natalie didn't smile at him, and she didn't walk towards him to give him a hug. Her father hadn't noticed, since he was busy shooing his friends out of the house.

"How're you doing little one?" Her uncle asked as he made his way towards her.

"F-Fine.." Natalie whispered. She was trembling as she backed away from him, but didn't show much emotion on her face. One thing, she didn't want to give Edward the satisfaction of leaving her terrified.

Edward chuckled softly and gripped her chin before giving her a quick slap. "Little dumb whore..."

Natalie whimpered a bit, and started backing away. "I'll be up to talk to you in just a little bit sweet little thing." Edward said before walking to the kitchen with a cruel laugh leaving his lips.

"Yes s-sir.." Natalie said, clearly defeated already.