Disdain, Part-2
They both reach the dining hall. Kaya looks at Keith and gives him a reassuring smile before pushing the door open. He hesitantly moves in, dread evident on his face, trying to avoid his father's gaze.
His father, sitting at the table, speaks coldly, without looking up from his paper.
Mr. Travis Anderson
Finally decided to grace us with your presence.
Mr. Travis Anderson
Thought you would be hiding upstairs, under your bed avoiding reality like usual-
Amelia sets the plate on the table and speaks softly with a hint of hesitancy.
Mrs. Amelia Anderson
Please Travis...can we just have a calm breakfast today?
Travis snaps at her making her flinch.
Mr. Travis Anderson
Stay out of this, Ami.
Mr. Travis Anderson
Maybe if you hadn't spoiled him, he wouldn't be 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘺!
Keith lowers his head, gripping his fork tightly. His mother glanced at him apologetically for being weak and not able to protect her son from his father's usual verbal abuse.
Travis fixes his gaze at Keith and says coldly.
Mr. Travis Anderson
Look at me when I'm talking to you.
Mr. Travis Anderson
God, you're pathetic...
Mr. Travis Anderson
Just...𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨
Mr. Travis Anderson
Why can't you be normal like everyone else?
Kaya sits straighter, her voice quiet but tense, she looks at her father and speaks gently.
Travis scoffs and ignores her. His gaze and words piercing through Keith's heart.
Mr. Travis Anderson
You think anyone's going to tolerate this...𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘨𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘦 of yours?
Mr. Travis Anderson
You make me sick. How do you even live with yourself? I can barely stand to look at you.
Mr. Travis Anderson
Weak, pathetic, mentally ill and twisted
Keith's hands start to shake, and he sets his fork, unable to keep eating. His mother's face crumples with worry, she collects all her courage and tries to reach out to him, but Travis's glare stops her. As she tries to speak, her voice is barely above a whisper.
Mrs. Amelia Anderson
Please, Travis...
Mrs. Amelia Anderson
Just...don't.
Travis turns to her, his anger shifting on Amelia.
Mr. Travis Anderson
Don't you dare.
Mr. Travis Anderson
Maybe if you had done your job properly, we wouldn't be sitting here, looking at this...
Mr. Travis Anderson
this...𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦
Kaya's face hardens, she slams her fork on the table, making Travis clench his jaw, she gently grabs her twin brother's arm, urging him to stand.
Kaya
Let's go, we're getting late.
Travis speaks mocking Keith.
Mr. Travis Anderson
Yes, run off.
Mr. Travis Anderson
That's what a 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠 should do
Mr. Travis Anderson
Keep running from what's wrong with you.
Mr. Travis Anderson
You can't be fixed, Keith!
Mr. Travis Anderson
You are a disappointment, a stain on my family!
Keith's chest tightens as he follows Kaya out of the dining room, every step feeling heavier as his father's words echo in his mind. Amelia watches her son leave, eyes filled with helpless sorrow and tears. She wipes them off before Travis sees her and heads inside the kitchen.
Kaya stops in the hallway, her face filled with quiet anger and sadness.
Kaya
I'm sorry... I'm so sorry Kai...
Kaya
You shouldn't have to go through with this...
Keith speaks, his voice trembling, struggling to keep his composure.
Keith
Thanks... for being there...
Keith
I just...i don't know how much longer I can keep doing this...
Keith
𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴...it just...it feels like something inside me is breaking.
He clutches his chest, taking a shaky breath.
Keith
My chest...it hurts so much...
Keith
It hurts with every breath I take...
Kaya pulls him into a hug, and he doesn't resist, his shoulders shaking as he finally lets go, the tears streaming down his face.
He whispers as his voice cracks.
Keith
It just...it hurts so much, Kaya
Keith
I don't know how to make it stop.
His words hang in the air, raw and vulnerable, as Kaya holds him tighter, her own eyes filling with tears as she gently rubs his back, doing everything she can to keep him from falling apart completely.
Kaya
Shh...it's ok. I'm here.
Kaya
I've got you. You're not alone, no matter what dad says...
She wipes his tears. Her soft voice breaks slightly.
Kaya
I know it hurts—I know...
Kaya
You know, you're stronger...
Kaya
You're brave and kind...you're exactly who you're meant to be...
Keith's breathing slows just a little as her words reach him. He just nods at his sister as tears keep trickling down his face now at her kind words.
Kaya cups his face in her hands gently.
Kaya
I see all of you and there's nothing wrong with you—nothing.
Kaya
You're perfect just as you are.
Kaya
And I'll keep reminding you, as many times as you need to hear.
Keith looks at his sister, her presence bringing him a small glimmer of comfort in the midst of his pain.
Comments
Aishi OwO
Phenomenal!
2024-11-11
1