Save Me

Seven - Ethan

f**k. I sit upright in my bed. Someone is screaming, again. That's the second morning in a row I've been woken by a scream. But just as quickly as it comes, it goes, and silence engulfs the house and I am sat here wondering if I actually heard someone scream, or if I just dreamed it. I hear a door creak open down the hall, and I am tempted to go and see who is up when the sun hasn't even risen yet. I really hate f*****g early mornings. A moment passes by as I contemplated rolling over and closing my eyes, and then another creak stops me in my tracks. I hear footsteps growing louder in the hallway. I sneak across my room and crack the door open just an inch, I can see Thea's bedroom door wide open and then the whispers hit me.

"I thought she was past this John." Mrs. James whispers full of pain.

"I know honey so did I. Just be glad that the others didn't hear." Mr. James whispered back.

"Would it really be the end of the world if the boys knew? Should I have told them?"

"This wasn't our decision to make Sarah. Thea made her feelings very clear, we have to respect that. She is a grown woman after all."

"She is now, but she wasn't then John. Maybe I should have told the boys, maybe they could have helped her."

"Sarah, we both made the decision to let her have some control over this situation when it happened, we have to respect the decision we allowed her to make."

"I know John, but what if that was the wrong decision?"

"Right or wrong Sarah, it is the decision that was made at the time. And now we have to live with the consequences of it. If Thea wants the boys to know, she will tell them..." he paused "Look she is going to be out now for a couple of hours, lets go back to bed."

"I might just wait here for her..."

"Sarah, she is fine, she is safe, she is just going for a run. Come back to bed."

"Fine, but I'm calling Dr. Charles after breakfast."

I closed my bedroom door as quietly as possible and crept back into bed. What the f**k was going on with Thea. What hasn't she told me, or Flint for that matter? As I lay in my bed, my thoughts running wild with all the possible things she is hiding from me, I can't help but feel pained she wouldn't tell me. f**k Ethan. Why would she tell you? You have barely been home in the past 5 years and completely absent for the last 2. What right do you have to know anything about her anymore? f**k Ethan, you pushed her away by leaving, and that's exactly what you wanted. Yes, that was what I wanted when I left, but I'm home now. And this distance between us... it's killing me. f**k. I'm f*****g screwed. Flinging my hands in the air, I conclude sleep is not going to come and shuffled my way to the kitchen in need of a good coffee. 

Eyes never leaving the floor as I shuffle to the coffee pot, I stare at it confused, it's freshly brewed.

"Couldn't sleep son?" a tired voice from behind me mutters. I turn to see a worn expression on Mr. James' face as he sits at the breakfast bench. I turn my attention back to the coffee pot and pour myself a cup, choosing how to answer him. I saunter over to join him. 

"How could I sleep after that?" I said staring into my coffee, with a matter-of-fact tone.

"You heard that then?" he sighed, defeated.

"Pretty hard not to," I muttered back to him, trying to keep my curiosity hidden. But Mr. James just looked into his coffee mug. "I know she has changed. We can all see it. Even if Flint hasn't registered somethings up." I stated.

"Just... Just don't judge her. And don't be fooled by this facade she puts on. She is still the same little Thea inside," he pauses choosing his words. "She's hurting, and she doesn't know how to deal with that. How to ask for help, how to let... someone in... Just be patient with her. She needs you."

"She most definitely doesn't need me " I scoffed at him. Like f**k could I help her.

"You would be surprised." He retorted before lifting himself up from the bench and heading back upstairs. Is he for f*****g real? He is trusting me to help his daughter. Me of all f*****g people.