35.

When we arrived home, if I can even call it such.. I had my head in her lap as she ran her fingers through my hair. It was comforting, soothing even.

She was reading a book, softly murmuring to herself when she found something that was said interesting and chuckling quietly when she found something funny. I snuggled deeper into her lap, breathing in her scent.

I felt my gut almost gnawing at me that something bad might happen to ruin this moment. I ignored it and tried to relax as much as I could.

Soon, my breathing slowed and my eyes fluttered shut.

I was startled awake by pounding on Quinn's front door. Flashbacks came to me of back when I was 10, my Father pounded on my door in the three in the morning. I groggily got up and opened the door.

"Why did it take you so long to open the door!?" He growled.

"I-" I squeaked out.

He grabbed me by the hair and pulled. "C'mere!"

He smelled like booze and alcohol. Yanking on my hair, he dragged me out into the hallway and made me stand against the wall.

"Stand Straighter!" He sweared. I whimpered, about to protest. "Shut up! Just shut up! I don't want you talking back to me, I'm your father and you listen to me!"

His breaths came out heavy as he glared down at me, I did as I was told and stood straight. I tried to avoid looking at him in the eye, resisting the urge to shrink under his gaze.

"Look at me when I'm talking to you!" He shouted. Shaking, I slowly looked up at him. "It's your damn fault she left! You fucking piece of shit! You were always so damn selfish! Your fault! Your fault!"

Spit flying from his mouth as he continued to curse at me. Profanities being directed at me, making myself feel small and empty.

"S-sir!" A voice squeaked out, we both turned to see Manny standing a few feet away, looking as scared as I was. "You have a meeting in the morning at 8! You wouldn't want the board to get antsy, right?"

My Father looked away. "Fuck the board," He muttered before stumbling off. Manny took me by the arm and gently took me back to the room.

Petrified, I froze on Quinn's lap. Reliving that flashback over and over again. Quinn put the book away and was about to get up, I whimpered and clung to her shirt. She stopped mid way of getting up, noticing how terrified I was. She sat back down, stroking my head gently.

"I'm here, I'm here," Tears flowing down my eyes as I curl up into a ball, still clinging onto to her.