Everything We Wanted

-22- ✅

Flashback 6 years ago

⚠️(TW: Homophobic slurs, abuse, panic attacks)⚠️

(Aleah's POV)
"Merry Christmas sweetie, here open your last gift. It was kind of last of last minute but I think you'll like it."

"Oh my gosh mom you didn't."

A pride flag. She actually got me a pride flag.

"Oh my god! Thank you so much!" I leaped into her arms, hugging her tightly.

"You're very welcome. I though you could hang it up in your room."

I found myself smiling a genuine smile for the first time in a few years.

"Thank you mom. I love it."

"Of course honey. Unfortunately you do have spend New Years with your father this year. You know that right?"

"I know."

1 week later

"So what did you get for Christmas honey?" My dad asks.

"You know clothes, new makeup. The usual."

"You didn't get anything else?"

I sighed, annoyed with his questions.

"Yeah I got a pride flag. Is that what you wanted to hear? I got something gay. Something to 'feed into this phase' I've been going through for the past 2 and half years is that what you wanted to hear dad?" I snapped.

His hand came into contact with my face yet again. Sending me tumbling to the ground. Tears brimming my eyes.

"Don't fucking talk to me like that! I'm your father and you will show me respect!"

"No! You're not!" I yelled, sticking up for myself for the first time.

"Excuse me?"

"You stopped being my dad the second you stopped supporting me. You're not a dad just because you have a child! You become a father when you love, support and care for you children. No matter what. Yes you may have helped make me and raise me, providing me the bear necessities I needed in life. But you didn't support me. You didn't care for me after I told you that I may not wanna marry a man! You didn't love me the same way after I said "hey dad, IM GAY!" What does who I love matter to you! It's MY life! The only person it's going to affect is ME! So yeah you ARE my father but you will never be my dad. And as for respect? I'll respect you as soon as you start respecting me. Because respect is earned not granted. So I am so sorry that the only daughter you have turned out to be a fucking faggot!"

He stood before me an angry expression. He knew I was right. Do I regret what I said? No. But I regret saying at the time I did.

His fist this time, came barreling into my stomach. Knocking the wind out of me. He punched me multiple times. Yelling at me to get out of his house.

"You tell anyone about this and I'll do something far worse than just punch you!" Then picked me up and literally threw me out of the house.

I didn't wanna go back home, I didn't want my mom to see my like this. So I called the only other person I could trust.