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There was that word again. The one that punched her in the gut and stopped her in her tracks. It took Sadie a few steps to realize Piper had stopped.
“What are you doing? We’re going to be late!”
Piper shook her head. “I don’t like that word.”
“What word?” Sadie’s brows furrowed together in confusion.
“Brat,” Piper all but whispered. “People don’t like brats.”
That really got her a confused look. “What people?”
“I don’t know, everyone,” Piper all but yelled as she threw her hands in the air in frustration. “No one likes brats and I don’t understand how you people just throw the word around like it's no big deal. I don’t get it!” She was close to tears by the time she was done.
Sadie’s shoulders dropped and she looked really sad.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything bad. I’m sure you’re loved by lotsa people.” Piper tried to back pedal. She hated hurting someone else’s feelings, especially someone who had been so kind to her and Sadie had been nothing but nice.
“You don’t have to apologize. You didn’t say anything bad and I know I’m loved by a lot of people. What’s making me sad is that someone lied to you.”
“I don’t know if it was a lie, per say.”
“What is the exact phrase because it obviously plays over and over in your mind. You probably can even hear the person’s voice.”
It was one hundred percent true. She could hear his voice, see the disgust on his face. She remembered every detail of the day including the piece of red tissue paper that sat on his shoulder as he berated her. Yeah, it was burnt into her brain no matter how many years went by and how many times she pushed it back down again.
“How do you know that?” she asked in lieu of answering the question.
“Because those are called ‘old tapes,’ Pippi. We all have them. Who was it?”
“My first Dom. I… really enjoyed being silly and playing pranks and he was grumpy about it at first but it was part of our play, ya know? Or at least that’s what I’d thought. I was wrong and I pushed him too far.”
“What did he say?”
There was no more sadness or pity on her face, just sort of an understanding? Piper couldn’t explain it really, but it didn’t make her feel as crummy as she had a minute or so prior. Closing her eyes, she repeated the words that had haunted her for almost twenty years. “You are too much, and if you don’t learn to control yourself, then no one will ever want to keep you. Nobody likes an obstinate brat.”
“Wow, what a dick.” Sadie shook her head. “If someone talked like that to a submissive here at the Ranch, they would be removed and never allowed back again.”
That thought brought Piper a modicum of peace, but the whole thing still weighed heavy on her heart.
“How long ago did it happen?”
“Twenty years ago, in a few days. It was my birthday.”
“Wait… did you say your birthday is in a few days?” Sadie’s eyes lit up.
“Yeah, my fortieth.”
“You’re kidding me right?” Sadie squealed at the top of her lungs as she bounced up and down like she had springs on the bottom of her shoes and couldn’t stand still if she wanted to. “Your fortieth birthday is in a few days?”
“Shh! I don’t really celebrate it anymore.”
“Y-you don’t celebrate your birthday? Is that even allowed?” Sadie planted her hands on her hips. “If it has been in the past, then it's not allowed now. It’s a milestone birthday! We have got to celebrate. Please!” Sadie clasped her hands under her chin and fluttered her eyelashes.
“I don’t know. Coming here was my gift to myself already. I really don’t need more than that.” Why had she even mentioned her birthday? She knew better than to do that. So many people loved their birthdays and she wanted to love hers as well but she just couldn’t.
Sadie sighed. “I don’t like this. I don’t like it one tiny bit.”
“I’m sorry,” Piper apologized unnecessarily.
