PAIGE
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My eyes slowly opened to my dark room. After dropping everyone off, I came to my mother’s and fell asleep. I had become confused because I felt like I had slept for hours. When I reached over and grabbed my phone, I saw that it was only one a.m. “Shit!” I mumbled.
I knew I was supposed to take Braylen’s car back, but I needed to be away from him until I allowed my heightened feelings to calm down. As I sat up in the bed, a creaking noise scared me. “You can’t ignore me.”
The scream that belted from me, I’m sure, was loud enough for my mother to hear. His shadow-like figure came from the dark corner as he sat on the edge of my bed. “Braylen, how the fuck did you get in here?” I now tried to whisper.
“I waited for you to show up at my place, and you didn’t. So, I came to you. Do you know what today is?” he asked.
I sat there confused as I racked my brain trying to figure out what today was. That’s when it clicked. How the hell did I forget? “Happy birthday, Braylen,” I muttered.
For the last two years, I hadn’t forgotten.
In fact, I had made it a thing to be the first one to say it, but this time I had truly forgotten.
I scooted closer toward him. When he looked at me, he wasn’t the same.
He looked angry, sad, and empty all in one.
I place my hands on his face, “You want to talk about it?” I asked.
His head turned toward me as a tear slid down his face. “No, all I want is to be with you tonight. Can I do that?”
“What, do you want to have sex?”
“I just want to hold you. I want to, for once, feel peace on my birthday, even if it’s only for a few hours. Can I do that?” he asked again.
I didn’t say another word. Instead, I leaned back on the bed and opened the covers, signaling him to join me. He pinched between his eyes before he removed his coat and shoes. Braylen climbed into the bed and gripped my waist, pulling me closer. Foreheads touching. “Thank you,” he whispered.
“I’m sorry I forgot, but Happy birthday,” I said as I kissed him.
I had put all my feelings to the side just to be sure he was granted his one wish. I giggled. “How did you get in here?”
“I have my ways. If I tell you, then I would never be able to get back in, and that’s not an option.”
I stroked his face, “Tell me what’s wrong. You should be happy on your birthday.”
He scooted closer as his hand slid up and down my back.
“Birthdays have never been happy for me. Piggy, everything isn’t always what it looks like.
My parents,” he paused. “They aren’t good people.
I have a mother who hates me and a father who would much rather go along with things than address the obvious.
Birthdays were torture for me. I didn’t get cakes and candles.
I got swats and punishments. I didn’t get I love you.
I got I hate you or she’s just having a bad day, Braylen.
To you, Braylen is strong, but to me, Braylen is weak.
He’s so weak he can’t even face them. So, when you asked where Beans came from, he was built to protect Braylen from being hurt and used. ”
My lip disappeared between my teeth as what he said broke me. A tear rolled down the side of my nose. He gently kissed my tear. “Don’t cry, just do what you said, love me, please.”
I scooted under him, hugging him tightly.
All the things Scooter said were now making sense.
Braylen had never been protected, and I had always been protected.
I wanted him to feel the love that I exuded, but because he didn’t say it back, I wouldn’t say it again.
We held each other and kissed until we both dozed off.