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“Do you think you can go there tonight, so we can grab your things?” I nodded again at Jackson’s question.
“So let’s get his stuff.” Mia was already standing up, wincing a little in the process. She tried to mask her pain, but her parents were too observant.
“You’re not going anywhere, young lady.” Jackson’s firm voice was back. He got up from his chair and looked at me and Zach. “Let’s do this quickly.”
“Why can’t I go? That’s not fair.”
“You’ll stay here with your mom and help her set things up for Ben. We’ll improvise tonight, then tomorrow we’ll get you settled for good.” He explained the last part to me, who was still in shock over that turn of events.
“But Dad—”
“Enough.” He raised one palm to stop Mia, walked to her, and bent down a little to look her in the eyes. “You were extremely irresponsible today. I can’t believe how reckless you were.” She looked down in shame for having disappointed her parents. She was a firecracker, but she still cared about what they thought. He held her bruised face with his big hands, mindful of not hurting her more. “And I’ve never been prouder.” He glanced at me and Zach. “Of all of you.”
Her eyes snapped up to him and she gave him a small smile as he rubbed his thumb lightly over her cheeks. When he looked at the cut near her eyes, his breath broke a little, and his eyes were tormented. He looked at me with sad eyes as he took inventory of my many bruises, then gazed at her again.
“You’ve done more than enough today. Now I want you to stay here so your mother can take a look at your pretty face, clean this up, and try to heal this. When we get back, we’ll take care of Ben as well. Then tomorrow, after a good night’s sleep, we’ll see about going on that trip if you all still wanna go. Deal?”
She nodded a little and gave him a tight hug. “Thank you, Daddy.” She looked at me and thanked him again, with a broken voice, making me feel she wasn’t thanking him for the trip, but for taking me in. He hugged her back and kissed her on her uninjured cheek.
Jackson, Zach, and I left the house and made quick work of picking up my stuff. Thankfully, Michael was already gone.
I didn’t have, nor did I want, many things from that place. I took my clothes, school gear, some photos and memorabilia that belonged to my mother—which I hid under a loose wooden slap under my bed—and some toiletries. On the way out, we grabbed Mia’s bike that was still thrown there, then headed back to their place.Ourplace.
Rosie had prepared a few sandwiches, and without the heavy doubt about what would happen to me, I realized I was hungry. We ate mostly in silence, then she cleaned up my injuries as best she could. “I don’t think you should sleep the whole night. We don’t know what happened to your head. We’ll let you take a nap, but we’ll wake you up every couple of hours.”
I lunged forward, placed my arms around her, and hugged her tight. My mom had done everything she could to take care of me, but she was mostly trying to survive. After everything I went through, after I thought everything was over, I had a new family in my life.
A caring mother to heal my bruises. A brave father to protect me. Two bold siblings to face my demons with me and fight my battles by my side.
After she kissed me on the cheek, I went upstairs so I could settle for the night. I stopped at Zach’s door and saw him organizing everything, making space for me.
“You take my bed tonight, I’ll sleep on the inflatable mattress.”
“You don’t need to—”
“I know I don’t, but you’re hurt. I’ll feel better if you take the bed until we get you a proper one.”
“You’re all already doing so much letting me crash at your place.”
He walked to me, with a serious look on his face. “You’re not ‘crashing.’” He made quote signs with his hands. “You’re living here. This is your place as well.” Being a hugger like only the Bryants could pull off, he hugged me tight, careful not to hurt me. “Welcome home, brother.” Choking back my tears, I hugged him back until we heard little steps approaching down the corridor.
We separated, and Zach went back to arranging everything. When I looked out, I saw Mia getting out of the bathroom after her shower and going to her bedroom.
She gazed at me. With her clean face, I could see her small, pointed-up nose was a little swollen, but what tugged at me was the gash over her left eye. Rosie had done her best to clean it up and close it with butterfly bandages, but I was sure it’d leave a scar. Her once clear face would be marred forever. Because of me.
I looked down at her. Her bruised arm, the contusion at the side of her leg visible after the brim of her shorts, and the spot I knew was getting bigger on her stomach, although her clothes were covering it.
“Stop.”
I looked up at her, embarrassed for being caught and worried she’d think I was being a creep.
“I’m sorry, I was just—”
“I know, you were blaming yourself. Just stop.”
“It was my fault.”
“No, it wasn’t. Dad said so, and you need to believe him.”
