Four Years

Chapter 30 Birthday Part Three

Sorry for taking so long to update, this chapter was hard to write.  Trigger warning.

I have been in my own little world for the past hour. After my mom left, I zoned out. Natasha called Ian and Diann. They came over right away after they heard what happened. Ian arrived forty minutes ago, and Diana arrived fifteen minutes ago. They have been trying to get me to talk, but everything that I wanted to forget has been playing through my mind.

Diana asks, "So what did she say that put Harley in this state?" "Well she apologized and then wanted Harley to convince you two to come to a family gathering" Natasha says, "After that Harley told her to leave and right before she left, Harley asked why." Ian asks, "What did she say?" Natasha says, "Because she was the mistake child and a freak." "What do you mean by mistake child" Diana asks. Natasha says, "Harley is the child that your parents didn't want but got anyways. They only wanted two kids, but then they got pregnant with Harley."

Diana asks, "How long has she been like this?" "Ever since your mom left" Natasha says, "So the last hour." Ian says, "Harley will talk when she wants to, lets just give her space." They all walk into the kitchen and start talking. I thought once I left, I would never see any of my family except for Ian and Diana ever again. I thought I could put this all behind me. I have no idea how long I was in my own little world when I feel someone grab my hand. I look over and see Natasha. I gently squeeze her hand and give her a small smile.

Ian and Diana walk over with some food. "You need to eat" Diana says. I nibble at the food Diana gave me. "I need to talk to Natasha" I say quietly, "Alone." Diana hugs me and says, "I'll see you tomorrow." Ian says, "Bye Harley." Diana and Ian leave. I pat the spot next to me on the sofa. Natasha sits there, and I take her hand. "You probably have a lot of questions" I say, "So I will start from the beginning." Natasha says, "Harley you don't have-" "I need to, I need to get this off my chest" I say. "Ok" Natasha says, "Take your time, I'm not going anywhere."

"It all started when I turned eight. That was the night the beatings started" I say, "Me and Ian had always been close, but he couldn't always be around me. Me and Diana were never close and there was a six year age difference. After that night me and Diana became close." I take a deep breath and Natasha gently squeezes my hand. "It was my birthday and I thought it was going to be like any other birthday, everyone but Ian forgetting. Bryanna and Diana were out with friends, Ian had already left since it was a school night" I say, "I was in the living when my parents walked in and started too take out their anger and stress on me."

Natasha pecks my lips. "Diana happened to come home and then ran into the living with a vase in her hand" I say, "The look on her face was complete horror. She got my parents to stop and then took care of me. That was the night we became close and she became over protective of me. After that my parents would only beat me when they knew Diana was busy. Bryanna would sometimes join in with my parents. As the years went on the beatings became worse and more frequent. After I met you, those next three years, everything go ten times worse."

I begin to get flashbacks from those last three years and I start to have a panic attack. Natasha pulls me in and starts rubbing my back. She starts whispering comforting things to me. Ten minutes later, I'm finally calm enough to talk again. "My family somehow found out about all the times we hung out, this was shortly after I thought you broke up with me, they would beat me til I passed out. I was constantly in pain and had to wear pants and long sleeve shirts to hide all the bruises. On top of the beating, I had developed depression" I say, "Honestly if Diana and Ian hadn't been there for me, I would have killed myself. Don't worry I have a prescription and I don't have those thought anymore. Then they found out I was gay. Instead of the normal punching, kicking, hitting and verbal abuse until I passed out, they started beating me with baseball bats, metal pipes, they would burn me with a clothes iron, and whip me."

"Oh my...why didn't you ever call the police" Natasha asks. "And be stuck in the foster system because none of my family wanted me and my sister couldn't take care of me" I say, "No thanks." "So, is that what your nightmares are about" Natasha asks, "And when you just have one of your off days?" "Yes" I say. Natasha hugs me and I feel something wet on my neck. I pull away and see Natasha crying. "Why are you crying" I ask while wiping the tears away with my thumb. "Just thinking about everything you went through" Natasha says, "Just because your parents didn't want you." "What's in the past is already done, you can't change it" I say. "C-can I...um see your uh scars" Natasha asks.

I stand up and take off my shirt. Natasha's eyes go wide. She looks at me and tears are already falling out of her eyes. She traces and kisses all the scars. I turn around and show Natasha my back. I hear her gasp. She hugs me from behind and says, "Your parents and sister-your family in general are monsters." "There not my family, they have never been my family. My only family is Ian and Diana" I say, "Well now you and all your friends." "I think nothing less of you" Natasha whispers in my ear, "This just makes you that much more of a handsome person and the strongest person I know."

I put back on my shirt when Natasha releases me and hug her. "Its almost midnight, I'm sorry I distracted you from giving me my present" I mumble into her neck. "You are more important to me that some present" Natasha says, "Happy birthday Ari." "Thank you for being there for me N&N" I say. "I'll always be there for you" Natasha says.

Thanks for reading.  What did you think?  What do you think is going to happen next?  What do you want to happen next?  As always votes and comments are appreciated.